I'm Looking for a Human Being
- Friday, May 07 2010 @ 08:25 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 2,214
Everyone has something physical about them that makes them self-conscious – we're such an appearance-obsessed society that it would be weird if we were completely impervious to the thousands of ads we see a day. Maybe our teeth aren't perfectly straight or perfectly white. Maybe we're overweight or underweight. We might be shorter than average, or taller than average. Maybe we have unruly hair, or no hair at all.
The surprising truth about our obsession with appearance is that, by and large, we are much more self-critical than we are critical of others. A multitude of “imperfections” can be masked by one thing: confidence. Most of the techniques people use to try to hide what they're nervous about – covering their mouth, slouching down – actually backfire and draw attention to the very thing you're trying to mask. What actually works is acting confident: good posture (no matter your height or body type), smiling (regardless of teeth status), being natural and relaxed.
The same techniques work in online dating profiles. It's a good idea to have your best picture set as the default. However, if all your pictures are from the chin up, with the same expression, artfully posed and processed, I'm going to think you're trying to hide something. Showing a full-length picture is something that takes guts, and is a bit of a gamble, but it can pay off – you're not afraid to put it all out there. There's one important note, though: an example of a good full-length picture is a candid picture that happens to show most or all of your body. You're still having a good time, doing something active or laughing at a party. It is most definitely not a creepy self-portrait in a mirror.
You don't have to have a full-length shot to convey confidence in your profile pics. Simply smiling with your mouth open often conveys more true happiness and honesty to the viewer. Choose shots where you're truly having a good time, even if you're not looking absolutely perfect. A carefully made-up face with a self-conscious grin looks about as appealing as it sounds.
Remember: your imperfections are ten times more obvious to you than they are to others. Presenting yourself with confidence shows you in your best light. And don't immerse yourself in photoshopped false perfection! If done consistently, these tips will not only attract others, but actually make you feel better about yourself - and that's most important.
The surprising truth about our obsession with appearance is that, by and large, we are much more self-critical than we are critical of others. A multitude of “imperfections” can be masked by one thing: confidence. Most of the techniques people use to try to hide what they're nervous about – covering their mouth, slouching down – actually backfire and draw attention to the very thing you're trying to mask. What actually works is acting confident: good posture (no matter your height or body type), smiling (regardless of teeth status), being natural and relaxed.
The same techniques work in online dating profiles. It's a good idea to have your best picture set as the default. However, if all your pictures are from the chin up, with the same expression, artfully posed and processed, I'm going to think you're trying to hide something. Showing a full-length picture is something that takes guts, and is a bit of a gamble, but it can pay off – you're not afraid to put it all out there. There's one important note, though: an example of a good full-length picture is a candid picture that happens to show most or all of your body. You're still having a good time, doing something active or laughing at a party. It is most definitely not a creepy self-portrait in a mirror.
You don't have to have a full-length shot to convey confidence in your profile pics. Simply smiling with your mouth open often conveys more true happiness and honesty to the viewer. Choose shots where you're truly having a good time, even if you're not looking absolutely perfect. A carefully made-up face with a self-conscious grin looks about as appealing as it sounds.
Remember: your imperfections are ten times more obvious to you than they are to others. Presenting yourself with confidence shows you in your best light. And don't immerse yourself in photoshopped false perfection! If done consistently, these tips will not only attract others, but actually make you feel better about yourself - and that's most important.
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