Give that man a ... tap on the shoulder!

People may know your name, but not your story.  They may remember you from yester year at school, or university and remember how you were then and automatically assume that you have remained the same person and are either still shy, or thin, or confident, or soft hearted, or poor.  They have heard what you have done in your lifetime, but not what you have been through.  There may have been a whole series of challenges, disappointments, achievements and relationships, that you have gone through and conquered and yet they cast a pebble in the pond, expressing an opinion of you from a memory, or historical reference, completely unaware of the path of life you may have followed.  So that is why it would be particularly wise to take their opinions with a dash of salt.  They are after all opinions and not necessarily based on facts.  In the end its not what others think, but what you think of yourself that counts.  If that which you think of yourself is based on what others think and say, then you are likely to be disappointed and filled with half truths and wrongful perceptions.  Certainly take compliments, that are genuine and aimed at building you up and make sure that those that are misplaced and puffed up speech, are flushed quickly and quietly from your system. Make sure your anxiety over how you feel about yourself, stays your anxiety, because otherwise your fears and worries, will become part of those people that care about you and in some instances, it will become their reality too.  I am not suggesting you bottle it up ongoingly, but try to keep the things that belong in your reality, to yourself.  You can spend the time on yourself dispelling your fears and tempering your attitude and even giving yourself a good old pep talk every now and then.  It remains your duty to deal with the things that affect you most and to come out on the other side, more positive and appreciative of the person that you are and have become.