Things become what you perceive them to be.  While one person might believe a golden bracelet to be a thing of great value and beauty, another might find it uninteresting.

To a large degree perceived function and value can define reality.  For example the Nintendo SNES retro game console is currently in huge demand and sold out everywhere.

The function of this toy is just entertainment (nothing life sustaining) and the cost outrageous, for something completely outdated and that you probably bought for half the price 20 years ago.

Yet, the console is in high demand because it is percieved to be something good. People believe in it.

Who are you

In a similar way we are all defined by how others view us.  You can believe you are polite, intelligent, capable and so on, but if others do not share this perspective, than in reality it is not true.

Recognizing that we are defined by what others think about us is a key underpinning to self awareness.  In brief, this is simply being aware of what you want to be and crafting your behaviour to make it so.

Of course being successful at both being what you want to be and ensuring others view you that way is dependent on your sensitivity  to how others perceive you and using that knowledge to craft their perceptions to the image you desire.

The first step toward being seen the way you wish to be seen is understanding and accepting that what others believe about you is reality.  From that point crafting that reality is just about shaping the environment to support your desired image.