A pastor said to me years ago "If someone tells you that you are a horse, simply laugh at them. If another tells you that you are horse, look deeply at yourself to find why they would say that. If a third tells you that you are a horse...No need to look further, for you are a horse.The perception of another is often times formed by the image you project.
If people, the right people, who truly care about you, tell you that you project a negative image to others. Maybe it’s time to work more on you instead of focusing upon the faults of others.