What we think about ourselves is not certainly what the world thinks about us. I think following what J Krishnamurti suggests watching our own actions one can understand the workings of our own mind and how beautifully we do what is convenient for us “ glorifying our achievements” and “ wrapping our selfishness” in sentimental garbs.
Listening to others (people with established credibility) and their opinion about one, not getting baffled by the reaction but trying to understand the root cause might be another way of understanding the self. Why others say what they say?
Psychological evolution is much, much slow one realizes. The temptation, to be amidst people who talk in your favor, say things to massage your ego, herd mentality of being acceptable colors our perception to quite an extent. The feeling of being in control, a false perception of being in control by just being able to manage a puny household or corporation, trying to override opinions and always trying to lead conversations is actually sad.
The more we try to seek control of situations the harder we convince the world of our insecurities. So called friends usually do not bother to point out, once a while one meets a true friend who speaks up, what he/she feels without bothering of their self image in our perception, to wake us up from this make believe world we live in. We must Thank God for such a friend/s and cherish the friendship more than ones life.
