Thanks for the encouraging words man! I have had self-esteem issues about my looks for a long time. I know I'm definitely not a looker. I have a nice face (but fucking weird teeth lol) and nice eyes, but I know shit about fashion, I badly need a haircut and my body sucks. (I'm not overweight, but I pretty much have no muscles at all. I've tried taking up running lately to do something about this but too little time because of too much work is sort of holding me back; I should think of this as encouragement to keep up with exercise.) I sometimes have these stupid thoughts that no one could find me attractive, which sort of makes me a bit shy and makes me less likely to engage flirtatiously with women, so I don't get much success. Which in turn feeds these stupid thoughts about my looks. I'm starting to realize that it's a negative feedback loop which makes me less likely to seize the opportunities that actually do present themselves. But it seems like I'm starting to break out of it. I should worry less about my looks and just try to put myself out there, like I did this time. If I do that, from time to time, I will find women who like what they see, even beautiful ones like this girl, who should be able to get much nicer-looking guys. This very encounter is proof that I can't be too bad.
But it's good to know that we both know there is mutual attraction. That should make it easier to escalate things if we both like who each other are too, and we wouldn't have to second-guess each other too much about whether there is attraction.
Indeed. I was once like you when I was growing up; the loop you talk about, and trust me when I say this, it's only in your head.
When you go into this date with this girl, you should do these couple things I do whenever I'm with someone new, someone unknown. This is a mental thing.
Purpose: Get to know her, and possibly get intimate. Do NOT feel bad about being honest about your intentions with yourself. Before going after what you want, you must know what that is!
Action: You be yourself. Just be the best version of yourself, not average you. Which means, if you are "nice", just be a better kind of nice (e.g. open the door, etc.), if you're funny, you be flirtatiously funny. If you don't usually take charge, well this time you will. Being the best you, also means trying to hide your bad attributes, and trust me, there are some. You're essentially selling yourself to this girl, but don't change anything fundamental (e.g. music taste). If she likes you, she will reciprocate.
Reaction: Uh-oh. This chick doesn't like the best version of yourself. That's fine. The way the world works is, there's a scale. 5 out of 10 women WILL like you, 2 of those MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT like you, and 3 will definitely NOT like you,
ever. Now, that's an average, and depends on the guy. These variables could switch places, so for me, maybe 9 out 10 will never like me, and only one will. But you see, most guys, even the "average" ones, fall in my former statistic! The problem lies in them thinking they are the 9 out of 10 guy. (Or worse, the 10 out of 10 guy.)
So, if this girl happens to be that girl that will inevitably not like you for who YOU are, don't feel discouraged. There are still 5 out the next 10 that you meet that will like you, 2 that might or not, and 3 that never will. That's what makes it easy for Alphas to move on IF she doesn't work out. Don't ever think you're just not good enough. Plenty of fish in the sea, my friend.
Now, the good part is everything I said applies to her too! She probably won't go in as much detail, but also realize she definitively has a
purpose for seeing you, a plan of
action, and a
possible reaction. Since you are the man, you do have to take charge, but don't think the playing field is THAT uneven.