They Will Believe You

I’m amazed at times by the way adults handle affairs. Business affairs, personal affairs, social affairs… whatever type of affair it is you can always count on at least one adult to cut a fool. That means that someone will behave inappropriately. It never fails. It never ends either. After displaying characteristics that are out of order, that same person always has a problem with the way they are perceived.

For most of my life I have been told and believed that the first impression was the most important and lasting image of that could be displayed. Don’t get me wrong; making a good first impression does go a long way. That will be the measurement by which someone else views you after a first meeting. That is why we make it a point, or at least should make it a point, to dress up and speak in a correct fashion at interviews and if at all possible when we meet someone we might be attracted to. It is sort of embarrassing to be caught in a situation that calls for impressions and we are not impressive. But at this point in my life I have come to the realization that there is usually something else behind every short life lesson.

“Make a good first impression” is wonderful, but what about the rest of the time? How much weight can be put into a first impression if the conclusions from it are found to be false? Remember, we are talking about impressions and not tricks. Anyone can act right for a short time or until “we get to know each other”, but that cannot be considered as an impression. That would be more like an impersonation and even the best impersonators do falter under long term scrutiny.

The point I am pushing is that first impressions only last until the second time you meet. It’s easier to put your best foot forward if you have two good feet to choose from. The benefits of being a good person far outweigh the fool’s gold resulting from the acceptance of faking or fooling someone. If you really want to impress someone…just be a good person and stop with all of the charades.

If you make a good impression they will believe you are the person you present, but the truth about it is, they will believe you every time you present yourself.