Self Image

"Nothing is more distasteful than becoming the person you don't want to become."

We all have certain perceptions about ourselves. The image of self is in our mind and the people outside too have an image about us in their minds. These two images hardly match and bigger the difference between the two images, bigger are the chances of conflict with others.

A rational analysis of self is very important, so that we can understand ourselves better. At the same time, the way we portray to others should be exactly the way we are. But that generally never happens due to our interests which may get hampered. So, we say things we don't believe in and skip things which we really should tell. 

The fear of honesty grows with time. It increases so much so that we may start living a false life which is according to the role expectations of the society we live in. When it comes to honest opinions about you from others, you don't find much of it. That's why the old maxim stands true.

निंदक नियरे राखिये , Keep your critics near yourself.  

This critic is not the one who will always criticize you, whether you are right or wrong. This critic should be the one who might see the situation from a different lens than yours. The next difficult thing is to appreciate that you are wrong. When you realize you are wrong, then only you can start the process of reform. Most often what happens is that you start repenting about your mistakes and never try to kill the reason behind. The reform should be such that the same mistake may never get repeated again.