Using Self-Care to Create a Good Impression and Teach Others About You

So many people are of the opinion that the practice of taking very good care of yourself is a selfish act of indulgence in which only the very wealthy, celebrities and spoiled little rich girls who have nothing better to do, participate. I admit that when my belief was that I was 'not enough, undeserving and of no value', I too, considered this to be so.

Sure, if taken to the extreme, that judgement might have merit but if you think logically about it, this opinion couldn't be further from the truth. If you don't take very good care of you and love yourself, how do you expect others to know how to do it?

It really is all about non-verbally communicating information about yourself that you want others to know. Things like, how well you respect yourself and therefore others; what standards you expect of yourself and others and what standards they can expect of you; how you want them to interact with you and what conclusions you want them to draw about you.

For example, what impression do you reach when you encounter someone who obviously doesn't consider personal grooming a priority? Perhaps something like, "I don't have a lot of faith that this person will do a good job for me, she obviously doesn't care very much about herself so maybe I should look for someone with higher standards."

Of course, this is all happening on an unconscious level so you may only be aware that there is something 'not quite right' about the person. The result however, is the same. You probably wouldn't consider her right for your project.

Compare that to the opinion you would form about a person who was neat and clean, who stood erect and tall, was well groomed and dressed appropriately. You might consider this person a distinct possibility and would certainly want to know more about her and her credentials, wouldn't you?

Making snap judgments about situations and people based on the information we receive within the first 4 seconds of meeting them is what we all do, instinctively. This natural human trait was necessary to our survival in the beginning of our existence when correctly summing up a situation could dictate whether you lived or died.

Now, more than ever, we must assume responsibility for creating our own opportunities and life circumstances. The best way to do that is to be authentic. If you really do want to make the most of what you have and you really do care about the impression you make on others, first you must make sure you know exactly what information you want to impart. Second, you must communicate to others exactly how you want them to behave toward and experience you. Make it easy for them to know you. Demonstrate that you want them to treat you considerately and respectfully by openly caring for and respecting yourself. Practicing extreme self-care is a good place to start.

And now, I invite you to claim your free instant access to my eBook "Facilitating Change" when you visit [http://emergingswancoaching.com]

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From: Vicki Lennox, The Emerging Swan Coach, helping you escape the duck pond and discover your Swan Lake.