Liked. Disliked. Empowering. Disempowering. Engaging. Disengaging. Open. Closed. Humble. Arrogant. These are not just opposites. These are paradoxes. These are contradictions. These are sides of the same coin. These are views. These are opinions. These are perceptions. These are realities. What we think we are may not be what we are. What others think we are also may not be what we are. Some times.

But if over a period of time and over a number of people, we are being mentioned with certain descriptions, there is some truth in it. That is why they say perception is reality. Perception sometimes is misleading but even in this case to correct it is our own responsibility. How many times have we heard that the perception about Pakistan is far from the truth. This itself is the truth. But equally true is that we have not really done much to work on creating an alternative perception.

As people we cannot ignore what our general impression is. We may feel upset about why people see us like this. We may feel surprised by the “wrong” image people carry about us. The fact remains that we need to work on it. There are two other schools of thought on this topic.

Firstly, many people feel that “why should we be dependent on other people’s opinion”. Secondly, some people also feel that “we do not want to be fakes and put-ons”. While both have a ground for consideration, the fact is if you are happy with the consequences of this approach it is fine. When how you are perceived is producing........

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