Your reputation is what other people say about you, not necessarily what you say about yourself. But other people don’t just see YOU, they see you through their own eyes–which consequently alters the story.
What you say about yourself is your ego attempting describing itself. But the funny part is that we have a unique ability to see ourselves through distorted lenses: either rosy, foggy, or smudged.
Which is true? Who are you really?
I choose to believe that there is no single “correct” story. Instead, my goal is to act and speak in a way that will result in as many stories about me lining up as possible, while simultaneously realizing that I cannot actually control what anyone thinks or says about me.
When your thoughts and actions are consistent, you can actually begin to influence the story but you can never control your reputation. It’s simply not in your hands.