When I first came up with the idea of the central issues addressed in this here blog, I was struggling with how it would be received as being related to kung fu. Most things in my life are related to kung fu, as it is as much a part of me as I am a part of it. Even though sometimes the connections between how things relate to kung fu is a little blurry.
What I wanted to explore today is the impressions you leave with others and their impression of you. Whether you like it or not, I feel that by being a part of this community, we are all representing this community whether we choose to or not. It has nothing to do with whether you wear the badge and uniform outside of school, whether others specifically see you as part of the silent river clan or not. It is more about being accountable to yourself, and without it being said, being accountable to your peers.
This is what leads to my next point, is that this does bleed over into all other parts of your life. Keeping in mind, of course, this is just my opinion and the way I see it. Everyone is ultimately allowed to do as they see fit.
Impressions and how you carry and conduct yourself in your life matters. It is a fairly accurate indication of who you are as a person. This is why I find that it is important to dress and act the way I aspire to, instead of the way I am at this point in time. As much as it would be ideal to not be judged on first impressions and judged by your cover, you are. This is a fact of life. For example, when I used to wear baggy clothing to hide my shape, I was almost invisible to womenkind. Now that I'm thinner, proud of my figure and carrying myself with confidence, I notice more girls eyeing me up. This is not a topic of great importance, but it is a clear and simple example of how first impressions usually dictate how other people treat you.
We may not like it or agree with it, this happens. Books and people are constantly being judged by their cover. So as much as it would be nice for this not to be the case, we must accept the things we cannot change. This is one of the reasons why it is important to be aware of the following:
-sit with good posture
-mind your manners
-be happy with the impression you leave with others. It is a worthy goal, to try and leave a positive mark with each person you meet.
-speak and carry yourself as the person you aspire to be.
-respect others. This is a big one. It is often parroted, but most of us are not perfect, and we do judge people based on their appearance whether we are aware of it or not, given that at that point in time, that is all the information we have. Don't judge others, and try to be a part of the solution. Respect others. Show them the respect they deserve, without which you cannot expect respect in return. I can not stress this enough. If you do not respect others and yourself, you cannot expect, nor deserve, the respect of others.
-hold yourself to a standard. Preferably a standard higher than the one before it. Holding yourself to a standard is also part of self respect.
It is important to see that this is not vanity. Vanity is in appearance only, while the impression I speak of is in action, expressed through your conduct. You are being aware of the mark you leave with other people, and letting them know that through your respect in the way you conduct yourself that you respect them and expect the same in return. For example, I do not dress to impress, but I will ensure that I am presentable before I leave the house. I am accountable to my own standards, not anyone else's. I will constantly strive to be the man I want to be at every turn, by conducting myself in the manner of which I aspire to, instead of the way that I am.
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