---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To make meaningful connections in an…"
description: "\"“To make meaningful connections in an authentic way, you have to project the best parts of your true self. In other words, before you expect others to ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/506/michelle-tillis-lederman-26271_authentic_to-make-meaningful-connections-in-an-aut_1673879.jpg"
---

#  To make meaningful connections in an authentic way, you…

![“To make meaningful connections in an authentic way, you have to project the best parts of your true self. In other words, before you expect others to like you, you have to like you--that is the law of self-image.” quote by Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/506/michelle-tillis-lederman-26271_authentic_to-make-meaningful-connections-in-an-aut_1673879.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/506/michelle-tillis-lederman-26271_authentic_to-make-meaningful-connections-in-an-aut_1673879.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/506/michelle-tillis-lederman-26271_authentic_to-make-meaningful-connections-in-an-aut_1673879.jpg)

> ““To make meaningful connections in an authentic way, you have to project the best parts of your true self. In other words, before you expect others to like you, you have to like you--that is the law of self-image.””

[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Authentic connection requires self‑acceptance; you must value yourself before expecting others to value you.

**In simple terms:** Like yourself first to connect authentically.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate self‑respect before seeking external approval.

Themes

self‑acceptance authenticity relationships

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- dating
- networking
- team building
- personal branding

Key Concepts

self‑image psychology social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you demonstrate your best self without pretense?
- What habits reinforce a positive self‑image?

A Different Perspective

Self‑image can be distorted by external validation, limiting genuine connections.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Authentic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authentic/) [Authenticity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authenticity/) [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Likability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likability/) [Meaningful connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful-connections/) [Networking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/networking/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Self image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-image/) [True self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-self/)

## Related quotes

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[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

> [“This is the Law of Likability: The real you is the best you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-tillis-lederman/this-is-the-law-of-likability-the-real-you-is-the-best-you/)

[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

> [“What you believe about your strengths, weaknesses, knowledge, and skills is what you transmit to the outside world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-tillis-lederman/what-you-believe-about-your-strengths-weaknesses-knowledge-and-skills/)

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> [“Holding ourselves back may keep us safe, but it also means sacrificing how much we can grow and limiting what we can achieve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-tillis-lederman/holding-ourselves-back-may-keep-us-safe-but-it-also-means-sacrificing/)

[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

> [“Building fruitful and lasting relationships starts with abandoning the conventional ‘‘me’’-based thoughts that are so prevalent in the business world and so easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-tillis-lederman/building-fruitful-and-lasting-relationships-starts-with-abandoning/)

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[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

> [“Harnessing likability is about uncovering what is authentically likable—in you, in the other person, in your connection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-tillis-lederman/harnessing-likability-is-about-uncovering-what-is-authentically/)

[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

> [“Cultivate the connections that you want to have, not the ones you think you should have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-tillis-lederman/cultivate-the-connections-that-you-want-to-have-not-the-ones-you/)

[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

> [“Building relationships is not about transactions—it’s about connections.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-tillis-lederman/building-relationships-is-not-about-transactions-it-s-about/)

[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

## More by Michelle Tillis Lederman

> [“Embrace your possibilities, not your potential failures. You get what you expect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-tillis-lederman/embrace-your-possibilities-not-your-potential-failures-you-get-what/)

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[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

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[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

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[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

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[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

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[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

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[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

> [“When we come from an authentic, genuine place in ourselves, our efforts to connect with people work to their fullest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-tillis-lederman/when-we-come-from-an-authentic-genuine-place-in-ourselves-our-efforts-2/)

[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

> [“It is through the strength of what is genuine that meaningful connections build into relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-tillis-lederman/it-is-through-the-strength-of-what-is-genuine-that-meaningful/)

[Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

[Explore all 22 Michelle Tillis Lederman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/)

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> [“RIGHT Do you do what feels right or what is seen right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-downer/right-do-you-do-what-feels-right-or-what-is-seen-right/)

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> [“But now? Being a sellout is the authentic thing. When”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/but-now-being-a-sellout-is-the-authentic-thing-when/)

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