Contributed by: Jet on Tuesday, December 10 2013 @ 09:11 pm
Last modified on
As we near the end of the year, prepare for tons of messages stating that now is the time to be impulsive. Whether it’s because of the supposed impending apocalypse that likely won’t happen or just the typical “go crazy on New Year’s!” message, now is apparently the time to shake things up.
Personally, I’m not one who likes to set change by a clock - isn’t that a bit counter-intuitive, anyway? - and I’m not much for New Year’s resolutions, either. Still, I can appreciate the sentiment behind it: if you can easily point to several areas in your life you feel you need to improve, there’s no time like the present to get on it - whenever the present may be.
I’m also not one for the concept of impulsivity; while impulsive acts can lead to positive change, they can just as often lead to injury or the inability to face one’s coworkers ever again. So instead of taking the simple concept of impulsiveness at face value, let’s think about the “good twin” instead: bravery.
After all, when people talk about being daring or impulsive, they’re really talking about bravery. They don’t really mean you should scale that building while drunk because it seems like a good idea; they mean you should talk to that attractive person you’ve been too shy to approach. They don’t mean you should suddenly gamble your life savings at blackjack; they mean you should finally work up the nerve to stand up for your great ideas at work. Bravery means overcoming the fear that’s holding you back, not the common sense.
So perhaps we can incorporate a little bravery into our dating lives - not because it’s the end of the year, but because there’s no time like the present to start. We can approach people in public, or take the step to make that dating profile once and for all. A little extra bravery can help you increase your self-confidence; it can make you strong enough to ask for help when you need it. It’s something strong, enduring, and actually nothing like the fleeting, wild, ill-thought moments of impulsivity.
So as the year comes to a close and you’re inundated with messages urging you to do something crazy and impulsive, make a well-thought plan to do something brave instead. Even if you’re like me and not one to do things by the calendar, it can’t hurt to start the new year with something to be proud of, instead of something to regret.