First Impressions: how important are they?

Say your best friend, Stephanie, sets you up on a blind date. Nothing serious, just coffee at the local college hang out spot. Your friend tells you nothing more about this person other then that the two of you are to meet there at 8 p.m. and that you should look for someone wearing white. So you get there, find a seat where you can easily see the door and scope out anyone wearing white who walks through the door when suddenly a guy wearing baggy jeans, no shoes and a ripped white shirt comes walking towards you, sits down and says, “Uh hi, I’m Bobby. Stephanie made you sound a lot prettier than you really are, so let’s just get this over with.”

What do you do?

For one you should slap Bobby in the face and walk out, but you should also re-think letting Stephanie set you up on a blind date. Ever again.

First impressions are everything. Think about it, how many times have we met someone and critiqued every little thing about them from the way he or she is dressed, hygiene, even how he or she has their hair styled? Many times. The littlest things like too much facial hair, too many freckles, bushy eyebrows, or weird moles easily turn off some people.

Lets face it; we are harsh when it comes to first impressions.

First impressions can make or break any situation. From job interviews to introducing yourself to your boyfriend or girlfriend's parents, it’s all about the way you present yourself, the firmness of that first handshake, eye contact, mannerism and so much more. People sometimes forget how important first impressions are.

Experts say that the first seven seconds are the most important moments in first meeting someone. According to Lydia Ramsey in her article, “First Impressions: How seven seconds can make a deal” she says, “When you meet someone face-to-face, 93 percent of how you are judged is based on non-verbal date- your appearance and your body language. Only seven percent is influenced by the words that you speak.”

This is completely true; we judge each other by the way the other person carries himself or herself. We critique how the person walks and presents himself or herself not so much about what her or she says.

But that doesn’t mean you can just mumble out some nonsense even if you have a great mannerism, the words you speak are important as well.

Positive comments and affirmations are the best way to be remembered, in a good way. Saying what Bobby above said is definitely not a positive affirmation. As humans we feed off of vibes and energy and if someone’s first impression of you is a negative one complaining about how much you hate your life and everyone in it and wish you could just kill them all, that really sends a bad vibe to the person you are meeting for the first time. Not to mention the fact that he or she now might think you are homicidal.

I mean after all, wouldn’t you present yourself the way you want others to perceive you?