I originally posted a useless, non-helpful comment.
Instead I will actually try to be productive.
Any time you bet, you should be trying to accomplish one of three things.
1) Make a worse hand call
2) Make a better hand fold
3) Force opponent to give up their
equity share of the pot
With your situation, and any situation for that matter, I want you to ask how can I play this hand to make #1-3 occur. And which am I primarily attempting to cause? Once you can answer those questions, your play should be easier.
Betting bottom pair for example (playing aggressively as you say).
Is ace high or king high calling us? What about draws?
Will middle pair fold? What about top pair weak kicker? Is this villain capable of such a laydown?
How much is in the pot? What equity does our opponent's range have? If we induce him to fold here is that +EV for our hand or are we better to check for a free card and possibly induce bluffs from worse?
This is how you need to approach the situation.