First impression is defined as “what a person thinks when they first encounter or meet another person. It is the feeling that a person gets as a result of his or her initial evaluation of another individual”. Many things can colour our first impression. Body language, eye contact, pitch or tone of speaking can all sway us one way or the other. The reality is, a first impression hardly gives the true picture of people, especially in this age of packaging. I have often heard that we should not judge a book by its cover. This is more like saying don’t rely on the first impression. That advice fell on deaf ears when I visited the Indian Embassy, in Lagos. As we walked into the visa section, I saw a clearing officer talking with a woman clutching her toddler by her side. He was tall and spoke so loud. Immediately, I concluded in my heart that he was hostile. As a matter of fact, I had to comment openly to my sons of what I saw as the man’s belligerence. As it turned out, however, I was wrong! When we entered his cubicle, he was the kindest person you can imagine. He helped us put our papers in order, pointing out what was missing without which our application would be denied and the money paid lost. I was deceived by the man’s voice and his heavy Indian accent to think he was unfriendly.
“No human assessment can be hundred percent accurate… So don’t be in a hurry to slam the door on people because the first impression you got was negative.”
How many times have you also assessed people based on what you could see or hear? Or, how many times have you been judged because of what people can see on the outside? We make this mistake often; and it is about time we stopped considering things from outward appearance alone. God does not judge from outside impression; He looks on the inside, including the motive behind what is seen. No human assessment can be hundred percent accurate, because we do not have access to the inner workings of the people that we see. So don’t be in a hurry to slam the door on people because the first impression you got was negative.
