Attitude & Image: The Inseparable Duo!

Attitude is the foundation of everything! Therefore, attitude is the foundation of your image!

But what exactly is attitude? Simply put, attitude is the way you dedicate yourself to how you think. Positive attitude is the way you dedicate yourself to how you think. Negative attitude is the way you dedicate yourself to how you think. The definitions are the same!

So what determines whether you have a positive or a negative attitude? Your thoughts! Positive thoughts breed positive attitude. Think positive, speak positive, be positive. Negative thoughts breed negative attitude. Think negative, speak negative, be negative.

"It's your thoughts behind the words you speak that create your attitude." Jeffrey Gitomer

Therefore, it's your thoughts that create your image! And your image is the visual expression of your thoughts to the world!

Personal image is how you look, how you speak, and how you act. And all three are the expression of your attitude or thoughts about yourself.

For now, let's focus on how you look...your personal appearance.

Stop right now and really look at yourself. Do you avoid the mirror because you don't want to see those extra pounds that have been creeping on? Do you need a cut and color but haven't had time to make the appointment? Are your clothes & accessories outdated and frumpy? Do your nails still have garden dirt under them? Or chipped nail polish on top of them? Is your makeup a throw back from the 80's? Are you just too busy managing a job and/or family to spend any time or effort on your personal appearance?

If you answered "yes" to two or more of these questions, you are probably suffering from negative thinking about yourself. Somewhere along the way, your thoughts began to tell you that you are not important enough to warrant the time, attention, and finances needed to update and maintain your personal appearance. Everything everyone else needs takes precedence over you!

If you really listen to your thoughts, you may be able to hear this message. Or the message may be so deeply embedded in your subconscious that you aren't even consciously aware of it playing over and over again in your head.

But remember we've already learned that image is a visual expression of attitude. And attitude is created by thoughts. So if you are neglecting your personal appearance...your thoughts about your own self worth are causing you to do so.

So why does personal image matter?

Image matters because people often make assumptions based on limited information. In their book, Social Psychology, H. Andrew Michener, John D. DeLamater, and Daniel J. Myers explain that when we observe a single physical characteristic or behavior in someone, we tend to assume that person has a number of other qualities, too. For example, someone may be perceived as confident because they have a firm handshake. They may be seen as trustworthy because they make eye contact. They may be judged as capable, professional, successful - even wealthy or intelligent - because they are well dressed. The reverse is also true.

We may not agree with making assumptions based on limited information. We may think it is wrong or shallow. But it is the reality of human interaction.

So how is your personal appearance connected to your happiness and success? Your personal appearance is a statement of how you feel about yourself. And it sends the message about how you expect to be perceived and treated by others.

If your personal appearance says, "I feel negative about myself" others will feel negative about you too! But if your personal appearance says, "I am confident and capable" others will see you as confident and capable!

In conclusion, positive self-talk (your atttitude) about yourself will lead you to take the necessary actions to be more polished in your personal appearance. A more favorable personal image will result in other people treating you with more respect. Being respected will impact the quality of your relationships and create more happiness and success in your life!

So dedicate yourself today to think positively about yourself! Listen to your thoughts and evict any negative ones which are sabotaging your positive attitude. Replace them with positive affirmations about yourself! And take one baby step toward improving your personal image. It may be making that hair appointment or walking a mile after work. Just take one step today and another step tomorrow and one step the next day...and eventually, your thoughts, and your attitude, and your image will be an expression of all the God given wonderment inside of you!

Be cheeky! Be chic! Be confident!
Linda Lee Rahn
http://www.cheekychicconfidence.com/