Kicking A Bad Reputation To The Curb!

Reputation = the results of what you do, what you say, and what other people say about you.

From the very moment a person is targeted by their peers, his or her life will change whether they want it or not, or as a matter of fact: even if they believes in it or not themselves. It’s true … your reputation has everything to do with the immaterial, which is a more powerful equivalent of a scarlet letter sewed onto one’s clothes (you do know what this means right?). It is more powerful because it may not even be perceived by the individual to whom it sticks, and consequently it is out of the individual’s power to control and manipulate anyways.

Simply speaking, reputation is the sum of impressions held by others you come in contact with each day. In other words, reputation is in the “eyes of the beholder”. So, have people labeled you as something that you don’t like? Well then, there are some simple steps that you can take to aide you in correcting this problem:

Ask yourself what gives you your reputation. We can’t fix rumors, but we can rebel against them. Have you been accused of being “easy”? If so, make sure to watch your behavior around the opposite sex.

Make friends. Be kind, friendly, caring, and a good friend and person … this is how you’ll change from the inside out. Also, honesty is a must, because it’s a genuine combatant against jerks and their ill-intentions.

Do good things. Try volunteer work, go to church more often, and be kind to everyone … what more can I say? Do things from the kindness of your heart and don’t try too hard to be recognized for it (note: people will think better of you now).

Do your best to change your behavior … while still being yourself. This is the best way to live your life honestly, and by doing this, people will eventually see that all those lies are just that: lies! Out of the mouths of liars!

Defend yourself nicely. When questioned about your past deeds, disregard it with a laugh and tell ‘em, “It was just a stage I was going through,” or, “It was just a stupid part of my life that I’d rather forget.” They’ll understand, if they’re cool!

Always think smartly about doing something dumbly that will change your reputation! Some things can make you seem stupid or criminal, both of which can lead to another kind of rep that you certainly don’t want to have! Also, in the process of creating a new reputation, try not to lose too much of your old self values. Why? Well, because what you do at your best often define what you may become eventually, and losing or ignoring these values may damage your self-esteem. Some people won’t stop talking crap about you no matter what you do, so just ignore these ignorant, jealous a@#holes to show them they are clearly not worth your time nor energy.

Remember this, my friend: some personal attributes that might give you a bad reputation include greediness, selfishness, cruelty, thoughtlessness, flakiness, unfaithfulness, sloppiness and laziness. Then again, some qualities to aspire to are excellent listening skills, the ability to laugh at your flaws, kindness, good manners, discipline, loyalty and honesty. So why not take a genuine approach to your pursuit of self-improvement? Along the way, you’ll probably also want to mend your wicked ways because it’s the right thing to do, and  not because you are obsessed with your image (note: if you do it for the latter, then there’s no hope for you … go live a s@#tty, phony life. I tried!).

Hey, this world is full of very small-minded people, who are more than eager to gossip about people in positions of power or those who have enviable traits or talents. If you find yourself the victim of such gossip, develop a thick skin and don’t let these losers get you down. Do your own thing … just make sure you’re always doing the RIGHT thing! Capish?