A blog inspired by International Women’s Day.
As an online dating profile writer, it’s my job to check out common mistakes made on dating profiles. I tend to take a critical eye based on my marketing expertise (I’ve been an ad writer for years).
Nevertheless, there’s one mistake that women make and it has nothing to do with marketing fundamentals. It has everything to do with self-esteem.
That is – too many women make the mistake of apologizing for themselves.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read variations of “I’m big, but beautiful”, or “I’m not a super model, but I do have a good heart”. It’s heartbreaking that looks outweigh beauty – worse still, this seems to be the tendency in females of all ages.
This article by Katherine Bindley in the Huffington Post begins with a story about a strict diet that a 7-year old conceived – and wanted to follow. The article then leads into some alarming statistics about dieting, including cases of anorexia seen in kindergarten children.
So, while international women’s day is being used to celebrate women and push our gender’s “good life” forward – from ending abuse to promoting equal pay – I suggest that we all also champion our own selves with the same compassion and zeal.
Besides, here’s what an informal poll on my Facebook page revealed:
Men like that we can openly care and express feelings. They like that we’re a warm place to feel safe and comforted. They love our perspective on the world. They even like that we don’t have stinky feet (I swear, a man said that! They are far less critical of us than we are of ourselves!).
If you’re online dating, never apologize for yourself. If you’re big, there’s a man out there with a wide embrace and open arms who would be lucky to have you. If you’re not a super model, then guess what – chances are the men out there aren’t either. There’s nothing at all wrong with you except perhaps the misguided idea that there is something wrong with you.
Low self-esteem kills us just as surely as violence and it has to stop.
Positive spin
If you have difficulty finding what makes you special, unique, engaging and disarming, then complete my personality questionnaire. It’s great at unlocking all the fun anecdotes and interests that make your online dating profile stand out from the rest.
If you can’t put the words together though, then let me. I’ll write your profile in a way that sounds like you, but more engaging and positive than you can imagine. Check out my online dating profile samples and see for yourself.
