Do First Impressions Really Count? - Ugochi Oritsejolomisan
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Do First Impressions Really Count?

07 Jun Do First Impressions Really Count?

Posted at 20:35h in Relationships by
0 Likes

You: Hi, good afternoon.
Him/her: (Silence) just looks up from desk
You: Please I’d like to see Mr Abel.
Him/her: He is not on seat. (Not looking up)
You: Any idea where he went, do you think he’ll be long,?
Him/her: (Raised and angry voice) I don’t know! Am I supposed to tell everyone who walks in here where the boss went and when he is coming in? If you do not know how to contact him, I cannot help you. If you don’t mind, I am busy!

Have you ever had an encounter like this? You meet someone for the first time ever and they just put you off. You know those people who don’t seem to realize that first impressions matter? They just behave any how they like to everybody they meet.  I agree to the fact that first impressions matter…a lot. But there is another side to this I would want to talk about here.

Have you ever wondered why some people get upset about everything almost every time? Have you ever wondered why some people cannot even accept it when you try to show them some love? Have you ever found it difficult to understand why you ask a simple question and he/ she just flies off the handle?

I have wondered, until I gave someone I met a closer look and a second chance.  In order to maybe get a second impression of her before drawing any negative conclusion.  She was going through a season in her life that put her under a lot of pressures; unfortunately she didn’t know the right way to deal with it.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I discovered that most times people like these are going through things too hard for them to bear at that time.  It could be a loss, financial hardship, relationship issues or something else.   People are going through so much, so many are in pain and hurting, and without a clue as to how to deal with and overcome their issues.
 
I agree that first impressions matter, and that one might not get a chance to make a second one. But can we just give people several chances, get to know them, try to see if we can help them and don’t just make up our minds about them?
 
I know that sometimes when I am going through stuff I am not a very nice person. So why should I just write people off on first impressions, without even knowing them for who they really are? I also know that what is on the inside is what a person displays outside but when under pressure sometimes people misbehave, maybe they are still growing,  maybe they just slipped, or maybe, just maybe they need someone to love them out of the misery they are in at that moment.
 
Is it possible for us to give people several chances as we try to know them better? Is it possible for us not to all the time judge people on the first impression they create before us?
 
If you think back you may remember that you have once or twice been mean to someone, not because you are a mean person but because you were facing some difficult times, you may remember a time that you didn’t have it all together. If that is so, then please don’t always judge people on first impressions, give them opportunities to give you impressions of who they really are or who they could be.
John-8:7
… He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
Proverbs 10:12 (CEV)
Hatred stirs up trouble; love overlooks the wrongs that others do.
Ephesians-5:2 
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us…
Please share your own encounters and experience with us.
Ugochi Oritsejolomisan
teshuva7@gmail.com

Ugochi Oritsejolomisan is a mentor, encourager and influencer. She writes to inspire you to live a full life. Ugochi lives in Canada with her husband Benson and their children; Joshua, Joseph and Josiah.

19 Comments
  • Pingback:My Gift Of Talkability
    Posted at 22:03h, 30 April

    […] not much but I am a believer that first impressions do not really count, I talked a bit about it HERE. I know I can talk a lot, especially at the heat of the moment when my emotions are on top gear, I […]

  • Pat @ Green Living Thrifty Frog
    Posted at 22:26h, 08 June

    Very good post, thanks! Following you back and enjoying your words!
    Huge green hugs,
    Pat

    • Ugochi
      Posted at 10:52h, 09 June

      Thanks Pat, I appreciate your visiting and following too.
      Love,
      Ugochi

  • Nicole weaver
    Posted at 20:43h, 08 June

    Ugochi,

    Great post! This past year my 6th period students were very difficult. More often than not, I ended up taking my frustrations on my 7th period class. The students got tired of me and they had enough savvy to confront me. well, I realized my errors and said sorry to my 7th period students. I think you took the moral high road when you said “sorry”
    Thanks so much for following me and I am very sorry for the loss of your sister. I am now following you too.

    Nicole Weaver
    Trilingual Children’s Author
    http://mysisterismybestfriend.blogspot.com

    • Ugochi
      Posted at 10:51h, 09 June

      Wow! They must be bold, but I see that helped. It really does make one feel good to acknowledge and apologize for wrong done.
      Thanks, death is one greatly painful thing, but God is helping us.
      Thanks for stopping by and following too.
      Have a great weekend!

  • I Wonder Wye
    Posted at 19:45h, 08 June

    Well said. I apologized a few months ago to my hair salon’s receptionist. She left a phone message asking me to ‘call back to confirm my appt.’ I called and told her in a short manner that I never missed an appt that I made and did not plan to call back to confirm every time I came in. I wasn’t rude, just abrupt. I later realized I was extremely frustrated about something else and that I didn’t like the way I had sounded on the phone so I called back to apologize and explain I had received some bad medical news. I felt better for it, I do not care to ‘put out’ negative energy into the world. Thanks for stopping by….my BF is from Nigeria! They moved to Kansas City and I dearly miss them…I don’t mean this to creep you out or anything. I just want to tell you that you are beautiful! You could be a model!

    • Ugochi
      Posted at 10:48h, 09 June

      That was a great thing to do, some times my emotions get in the way too but I am working on them, seriously. And because of that I have learnt to make excuses for people, not judge them.
      Sorry about your BF’s movement, but I know you are in touch with them.
      And thanks for stopping by, and the compliment…I am not creeped,lol, I did not participate one bit in creating me.

      Have a great weekend!

  • Frank King
    Posted at 02:41h, 08 June

    Great post. Right on point.

    • Ugochi
      Posted at 12:31h, 08 June

      Thanks Frank, hope you were inspired.
      God’s grace and speed!

  • Chatón
    Posted at 01:53h, 08 June

    Good reminder! Thanks for following my blog. I returned the favor!

    • Ugochi
      Posted at 12:30h, 08 June

      Thanks for the follow back Chaton, God’s grace!

  • kendra
    Posted at 00:38h, 08 June

    Thanks for the ever so gentle reminder (I needed that) not to judge another.

    • Ugochi
      Posted at 12:27h, 08 June

      We all need this reminder. Thanks for visiting.
      Have a great weekend!

  • Judy Haughton-James
    Posted at 22:32h, 07 June

    Very interesting post that gives serious food for thought Ugochi. You are right, first impressions are very important. However as you so rightly say sometimes persons are going through experiences that make them act in ways that are not considered good. Take care and enjoy the rest of your day.

    • Ugochi
      Posted at 22:36h, 07 June

      Thanks Judy, for visiting and sharing too.
      Stay blessed!

  • Katie Smith
    Posted at 21:09h, 07 June

    Great post!!
    I’m you newest follower via the Thurs. Blog hop!
    Feel free to stop by anytime!
    Katie

    The Random Life
    http://katierox4you.blogspot.com/

    • Ugochi
      Posted at 21:24h, 07 June

      Hi Katie,
      Thanks for stopping by,hope you come back soon.
      Blessings!

  • ♥ Shar
    Posted at 21:05h, 07 June

    You make a REALLY good point here!

    And really made me think about how I judge people sometimes.

    Great post!

    xoxo -Shar

    • Ugochi
      Posted at 21:21h, 07 June

      We all need a re-think Shar, thanks for visiting.
      Blessings!