Our reputation is important, but it’s not too important to let it take over our lives, neither it is so insignificant to go on do whatever we desire wherever we wish giving no damn about our surrounding.
The other day I came across this quote, and I wish I knew who said these words, but I didn’t, anyway, it says: “Reputation is what people think you are. Character is who you really are. Take care of your character and your reputation will take care of itself”.
And I agree, reputation is what people think you are, and what people think is based upon what you really do, OR it could be based on what others say you do. And what others say you do could be true (stemming from what you really do), or could be false (in that case would be more of a rumor than a reputation).
In other words: the key to reputation is one’s self. All you should do to get a good reputation is be natural, never cross others’ red lines, be kind, stand up for your rights, be honest and show respect. Now if you do this and you hear others warn you of your “bad reputation” then don’t care, don’t be sad, because in this case -like I said before- it’s rumors that are trying to give you a bad reputation. Rumors come from people who hate you, envy you, or those who misunderstand you. You shouldn’t worry at all, why? Because whoever believes those rumors in the first place, and ignores his/ her personal knowledge of you and who you truly are, doesn’t deserve your sadness nor your trust. And whoever really loves you and cares for your friendship will never ever let others affect his/her opinion of you. It’s only in hard times and through difficulties that a person could really test the friendship, loyalty and love of others around him/her. Therefore, don’t care that much about what others think of you, others will never be pleased with you no matter what you do, better please yourself by doing things right and going to bed with a guilt-free mind and a smiley face. And let me end this post with a quote of Mr. Herbert Bayard Swope: “I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure- which is: try to please everybody“.