9th October 2023

This week, I want to talk about self-perception and the thought-provoking idea that I heard recently that we wouldn’t recognise ourselves if we passed ourselves in the street. This highlights the fluidity and subjectivity of our identities and explores factors that influence our self-perception.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you passed yourself in the street? Would you recognise yourself, or simply walk right by yourself? It’s an intriguing question to ponder, as it raises the concept of self-perception and the potential for us to be unrecognisable to ourselves at times.
At first glance, it may seem impossible not to recognise oneself. After all, who knows us better than we know ourselves? However, upon further reflection, it may be that our self-perception is not always as accurate as we would like to believe it is.
One reason for this discrepancy lies in the fact that our self-perception is often influenced by external factors. For example, we constantly compare ourselves to others, whether it’s through societal standards, expectations, or images that we see on social media. These comparisons can distort our perception of ourselves.
Additionally, self-perception is always fluid and subject to change, as we are constantly evolving and growing as human beings. This therefore means that the person we were yesterday, may not be the same person that we are today, or the person that we will be tomorrrow.
Our experiences shape us and cause a shift in our identity over time. Consequently, if we would pass our past selves in the street, we may not recognise the person we used to be. Our self-perception can also be shaped by how we present ourselves to the world currently.
We craft an image of ourselves based on how we want others to see us, highlighting certain aspects and downplaying others. The concept of not recognising oneself in the street also raises the issue of self-awareness. How well do we know ourselves? Are we blinded by preconceptions or biases?
An analogy to illustrate this concept is looking at an old photograph of yourself. You may not immediately recognise yourself. Your appearance, style, or even your facial expressions may have changed so much over the years, that you may somehow feel disconnected from the person in the photograph.
But remember that, although I have suggested the idea that we may not recognise ourselves if we pass ourselves on the street, which is thought-provoking and challenges you to reflect on your own self-awareness, self-perception can actually be insightful and recognisable, not just skewed or unrecognisable.
So, this week, remember that the idea of not recognising oneself if passing oneself in the street, challenges assumptions about self-perception and reminds us to be more open-minded, as we never know how we may change. And the next time you find yourself people-watching on the street, ponder this question!




