Haryana/Hisar: Whenever people see a beautiful photograph of someone, they tend to be captivated by that individual. They begin to feel drawn to that person's beauty, thinking, "If this person looks so beautiful in appearance, how wonderful must they be in reality?" Nowadays, everyone constantly takes hundreds of photos on their mobile phones and posts them on social media, WhatsApp, or various other apps. These platforms often offer a wide array of filters.
By utilizing these filters, people capture a "beautiful image" within their phones—an image that quickly charms the viewer, leading them to form positive assumptions about the person, even though they know absolutely nothing about that person's true character. If someone posts an informative piece, people assume they are knowledgeable—regardless of whether the content was simply copied and pasted from elsewhere. The same applies whether it is a video, a photograph, or a short-form "Reel."
However, I fail to understand why people form such assumptions about others—without ever having seen them in person, met them, or truly gotten to know them. If a person sings a sorrowful song, or perhaps a joyful one—or if they post a video that is humorous or melancholic in nature—people immediately assume that the person must be feeling sad or happy at that very moment. They begin to spontaneously construct various narratives and assumptions about that individual.
Some people, in their quest to earn money through social media, create and post videos indiscriminately, without giving them any thought. Yet, everyone knows that a camera merely captures an image; it does not reveal a person's true reality. Nowadays, there is a massive, ongoing competition among the youth, who are constantly creating and uploading all sorts of photos, videos, and Reels. In fact, even older generations have started doing the very same thing. But can one truly assess a person's character or discern their true nature based on such content? People often pose for photos wearing a manufactured, artificial smile.
But what are they truly like on the inside? Only the person who is constantly in their company—or who has truly taken the time to understand and assess them—can truly know a person. People often stand in the midst of a gathering, make a mockery of someone, and then proceed to take photos with that very same person and post them online. In the truest sense, one cannot even trust the person standing right beside them these days, as it is impossible to know what thoughts are running through their mind regarding you.
People have become so cunning that you often fail to perceive the deceit lurking behind their artificial smiles. It is virtually impossible to discern how one person is perceived—what kind of "image" they hold—in the mind of another. To build a positive image in the eyes of others, one must genuinely strive to improve oneself in reality; after all, everyone looks good in photographs. However, if you truly wish to win someone's heart, you must demonstrate your sincerity by actually doing something meaningful for them.
Perhaps this is precisely why relationships among today's youth rarely endure for long. It seems that everyone is constantly chasing after new connections, only to experience a breakup shortly thereafter. This occurs because people are selecting partners based solely on their photographs. Before establishing a friendship or taking the time to truly get to know someone, they make romantic overtures based merely on physical appearance. Consequently, when they eventually spend time together, the unvarnished reality of the person comes to light.
As difficult as it is to discern someone else's true nature, it is far more challenging to cultivate a positive image of oneself in the eyes of others. If you intend to build a relationship with someone, reveal your true self—your genuine temperament and character. Show them who you truly are, rather than attempting to construct an image in their minds using artificial smiles, filtered photographs, or edited videos.
Cultivate authenticity within yourself. Infuse your demeanor with humility—but do so only if you are genuinely sincere, or if speaking with humility is deeply ingrained in your values ??and upbringing. Do not be the kind of person who acts sweet and agreeable to someone's face while speaking ill of them behind their back. State whatever you have to say clearly and directly, ensuring that the other person remains free of any misconceptions regarding you. Once you have done that, leave it up to them to decide whether or not they wish to pursue a friendship with you. Admittedly, however, there are times when—even after knowing someone for years—one still fails to fully grasp their true nature. It is only during difficult times—when a person reveals their true colors—that you truly realize how close they are to you. Nevertheless, to truly discern someone's true nature, it is essential to engage in conversation with them and spend time in their company. It is unwise to become enamored with someone based solely on their photographs, videos, or social media reels. Therefore, do not attempt to build your public image merely through your photographs; instead, cultivate your authentic image by bringing clarity and integrity to your character.