Lately, I've been thinking a lot about first impressions and how much they affect the way we view people. First impressions are basically always misleading because they form within seven seconds, and it is quite impossible to learn a person's entire life and personality in that amount of time. In return, we are often extremely mislead and sometimes end up disappointed when it comes to learning someone's true colors. You can be tricked in two different ways.
You meet someone, he or she seems genuine, but then they turn out to be a backstabber. Or, you meet someone, you get very bad vibes from them, but then after a while you realize how amazing he or she is. I've most definitely experienced both firsthand. There's nothing that makes me cringe more than meeting a guy that comes off as a total sweetheart, but then as time goes on his true, disappointing personality comes out. I think that a lot of the time, we are quick to jump to the conclusion that they "changed," meanwhile, they were the same the whole time.. you just didn't know what type of person they really are. There's also been countless number of times where I would meet someone who seems rude or annoys me for some apparent reason, but then as I get to know them a bit more I realize that they aren't like that at all.
At the end of the day, first impressions hold more power than they should. Although as humans we think they are useful and correct, they are nothing but false information that brainwashes our minds. The only way to get to know someone is through time, and lots of it! It has been proven that it can take years to get to the point where you genuinely know someone, which shows how inaccurate first impressions are. So, the next time you meet someone new, instead of judging them right from the start, take some time to really get to know them. At the end of the day, that is what will be the most beneficial and it will eliminate a huge amount of miscommunication. First impressions shouldn't be something that are held on to because its true value is less than minimal — it is all just an illusion of perception.
