In my Professional Communication class, I recently explored the art of non-verbal communication , how posture, expression, and appearance silently shape our impression before words even begin.
A student raised an interesting question:
She asked “Ma’am! if first impressions matter so much, doesn’t being simple or shabby make others underestimate us?”
I smiled.
“Yes, appearances influence perceptions,” and I have a pause to read the class expression , most of them are still curious on how do I justify this ..
to break the silence, I said, “but they never define potential. A clean shirt may impress for a moment; a clean heart inspires for a lifetime...and I added, Never judge anyone by their looks, either too rich or too plain.”
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, despite being one of India’s greatest minds, lived with extraordinary simplicity. He used to polish his own shoes, mend his own clothes, and sleep on a small cot even as President.
His focus was never on luxury , it was on lifting a nation.
Brilliance, you see, often wears humility as its true uniform.
But after the class my mind unfolds a new thought...Why can’t people value silent perseverance before it turns into visible success?
The people who hardly noticed their presence , after success rush to find their number, praise their skill, and look for ways to “associate” with them.
It’s fascinating, isn’t it?
The world often ignores consistency but celebrates the outcome.
It may not always recognize the person, but it surely recognizes the result.
But as life unfolds, I’ve come to see another side.
Both success and failure draw attention in different ways.
Success brings admiration; failure brings curiosity, sometimes even criticism.
But in both cases, people look at you.
And that’s where the real test begins , not in how the world sees you, but in how you see yourself.
In the recent past, as Padma awardees are announced, we meet unsung heroes who worked for decades in silence. Their stories must be told , not for applause, but for awakening.
Tulsi Gowda, a barefoot grandmother from Karnataka, has planted over 30,000 trees. She can identify the seed of any plant merely by touch. When she received the Padma Shri, she walked up barefoot, a symbol of her deep bond with the earth she nurtures.
Harekala Hajabba, an orange seller from Mangalore, used his small savings to build a school because he didn’t want other children to remain illiterate like him. When honored, he said simply, “Education is sweeter than oranges.”
D. Prakash Rao, a tea-seller from Odisha, spent half his earnings to teach slum children. His tea stall became a classroom of dreams.
Haldhar Nag, a humble poet from Odisha, wrote epics in Sambalpuri dialect. When informed about his Padma Shri, he requested the government to post it to him , because he couldn’t afford the travel to Delhi..
These are the faces of true success , no brand endorsements, no headlines, only service.
For years, people like these live unnoticed , until one day, the world sees them. Suddenly, their silence becomes spotlight.
At first, it feels unfair that the world values only the success. But soon I learnt: both success and failure attract attention ,one brings applause, the other brings reflection.
The real test is not in being noticed, but in staying grounded when you finally are.
Limelight is like sunlight ,
too close, it burns;
too far, it chills.
The art is to stay warm , bright enough to shine, humble enough to grow.
I am slowly understanding this fact that
Whether crowned with awards or ignored in obscurity, the balanced soul walks steady , knowing that self-worth comes from purpose, not from praise.
This generation ( not based on the Genz or etc...I mean this era) scrolls fast, judges faster, and sometimes forgets to see.
May we pause long enough to look beyond appearances , to value the spirit behind the story.
Because that quiet worker in the corner might be another Tulsi Gowda.
That simple teacher might be shaping minds like Dr. Kalam.
That humble poet might be the next Haldhar Nag, writing truth in silence.
Greatness doesn’t demand attention , it deserves understanding.
So whether you are in the spotlight or the shadows, remember this:
Your worth isn’t measured by applause.
Your power isn’t in your looks but in your work.
Your peace doesn’t depend on how the world sees you, but on how you see yourself.
Stay grounded, even when you rise.
Because success may change how others look at you,
but never let it change how you look at the world.
Keep reading and spread positivity.
With 💕
Swetha Vishnuchittan.
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