Going through a breakup can really put your confidence through the wringer. You’ve probably heard, more than once, that you need to get back out there and start dating again. While the possibility of putting yourself out there emotionally may be terrifying at the moment, there is one thing that scares you even more: it’s getting that first date.
If you’re like some people in your situation, online dating may seem like the viable solution. You’re not really putting yourself out there – at least not just yet. You feel as though it will be a little less personal if you’re rejected on the Internet than if you were rejected in person. You might also believe that you’ll invest a little less with an online dating relationship than if you were to meet face-to-face.
The problem is, eventually, online relationships will reach a point where you must either take the plunge and date in person if the relationship is to continue or to grow. The point of online dating is that you’ll eventually make the move to offline dating and not to use as an excuse to avoid dating in the real world indefinitely.
What I’m saying is that, for some people, online dating becomes a crutch rather than a confidence builder.
On the flip side, there are many, many people who have had wonderful, life-changing experiences with online dating. Some people have met their soul mates. Others have made great friends and forged non-romantic relationships that have been invaluable.
But is online dating a good “confidence builder” when your confidence is suffering due to a breakup?
It’s true that you might be feeling incredibly unworthy.
You may doubt even the best things about yourself. But what can online dating do to help you regain your lost confidence?
Not a lot, really. It might provide a temporary boost but there is still a lot of rejection in online dating. The funny thing is that most of it has nothing to do with you and much more to do with the other person. But this is not a “no rejection” or “no risk” style of dating. You’re still putting yourself out there – on the chopping block – so to speak.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t get anything from the experience. There is one very important thing to keep in mind when it comes to online dating though. You’re most likely going to get exactly what you expect to get from the experience.
If you expect great things; you’ll get them.
If you expect it to be a painful experience; it probably will be.