Application to Date Me

Amidst a sea of positivity, I let one voice stop me from swimming. Anyone relate? I had a funny idea. One that makes me laugh just thinking of it. Others joined in with amusement and encouraged me to try. Did I listen to their voices? Nope. Did I let the voice of one friend, who laughed (not in a good way) at my idea get to me?

YES!

Why do we do this? Why do we allow one negative voice to outweigh the positive?

 Recently, on the Today Show, I heard Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager talk about how we sometimes pay attention to criticism  because it tends to reflect the meanest things we say to ourselves.

After hearing that one negative response, I told myself that my idea was crazy and I kept pushing it aside.

Years later, after highlighting page after page of Jen Sincero’s You are a Badass and binging on Brené  Brown, Jen Hatmaker, Glennon Doyle and other inspirational authors,  I’m ready to listen to my voice. 

The voice that tells me my humor, bravery and unique spirit will be what draws the equivalent my way. When I silence that voice and stifle my courage, I risk missing out on life, and, potentially, the person I’m supposed to be with.

My creativity fuels my life. So, maybe, it will creatively fuel my search for the one.

 This leads me back to my idea—I didn’t mean to leave you in suspense. Okay, maybe I did...just a little.

I’ve created an Application to Date Me. I’ll let that sink in.

Yep. I didn’t like the game, so I made up my own!

Inside scoop: I drafted the copy in 2017 and was recently re-inspired by my “bad dates” book* coming out in October. I am literally taking a page from my own book. Readers will find Alexandra and the Awful, Awkward, No Fun, Truly Bad Dates’ main character, Alex, empowered. As the main character of my own life, I seek the same. To harken back wisdom from Today with Hoda and Jenna, just like those whispering negative voices, we can also locate the positive pieces within ourselves; the ones that the world needs to hear.

“I didn’t like the game, so I made up my own! ”

Here is the dating application on my website. You’ll find the description of what I’m looking for and the form for interested parties to fill out. Like in my book, friends will be in on the evaluation, and I’ll read every submission. Let’s see where this goes. If nothing else, I’m sure it will lead to a good story and, as you know, I’m all about those. *wink face*

What about you? What’s something you have put off because you’ve let negative voices, especially your own, become louder than your empowered core? What do you have to lose in turning up the volume on that inner strength that knows how to map you further than your critics?

Remember,

Your Brave Tutu (You’re brave, too-too!)

-Take courage in delight. Discover power in small moments.

P.S. Please share the “Application to Date Me” page and let’s see what happens! (Feel free to tag and connect with me @RebekahAManley.)

*My first book, Alexandra and the Awful, Awkward, No Fun, Truly Bad Dates: Picture Book Parody for Adults. comes out Oct. 13. Please visit www.rebekahmanley.com to pre-order and sign up for my mailing list.

** Shout out to Leon Hendrix who recently launched his #dateleon campaign because he reminded me that although an idea might be a little crazy, at the very least, it’s entertaining.