Ever since we were kids there have always been expectations placed on us by other people. Don't do this. Don't do that. Go to this school. Get this job. Most of this initial conditioning came from our parents and other authoritative figures, but as we got older other influences like our peers and the media began creeping in and dictating the "rules" on how to govern our lives, particularly our social lives. All of these rules and expectations end up casting doubt onto out decisions and the result of this is rampant all over this website.
"Don't approach guys, let them come to you."
"Don't show much interest in a girl or else she'll think you're a creep."
"Don't go for younger guys."
"You can only date within a restricted age range."
"You need a thigh gap and a big ass to be attractive."
"Girls only like tall guys with muscles."
"You have to play hard to get to get a guy interested."
"You gotta treat girls like crap to keep them coming after you."
Let's be honest here, this is all crap. It's all just misinformation that we were fed by unreliable sources and that we soaked up because we didn't know any better. But the unfortunate fact is that these false perceptions of the opposite gender are the very ones that we base our decisions on. We're essentially letting other people's beliefs dictate our lives. The decision to act or not act is based on some crap we read in a magazine or something we heard from a friend of a friend's step-brother's cousin twice removed. And that's wrong.
We shouldn't let what other people believe or tell us dictate our decisions. Girls, if you want to approach that guy you've been checking out, do it. Don't worry about some girls who might call you "desperate". They shouldn't dictate your decisions, so don't let them stop you. For all you know, that guy could be your future husband. Guys, you see that bombshell that's been returning your glances, don't sit there with your thumb up your ass thinking you're not good enough because you can't bench 300 lbs and don't drive a beamer, or think that she might be a couple years "too young" and you're only allowed to date within a certain "socially-approved" range. That's bullshit. Don't let other people's beliefs hold you back.
There will always be people who disagree with us, but if we live our lives following someone else's beliefs and rules then we're never going to get anywhere. We're just gonna be stuck in our own heads living a life of inaction because we're too scared of getting disapproval from our peers. Live your life based on your own beliefs because the consequences of your actions or inactions are felt only by yourself. Don't let other people hold you back.
Most Helpful Opinions