Top 5 Dumbest Pieces of Flirting Advice

Ladies, growing up can be all of the following things:

• Wonderful
• Exciting
• Terrifying
• All-around rocky

Now, what’s truly marvelous is all of the resources we have available, across the board, to help us discover ourselves, our purpose and our passions.

But all of that access we have to information and advice (coupled with the access that influencers have to us) can be a burden, too—which is why it’s so important that we not be isolated, but selective.

Allow me to explain.

I had a real “eyebrows raised” kind of moment this morning when I stumbled across an article that claimed to hold a woman’s secret key to flirting like a real champ. Or should I say “keys,” because the advice was actually pretty extensive, not to mention specific. Which prompted me to look at another article…and another. And yes—another.

Of course, I could tell you about all the outrageous material that I came across during my digital wanderings, but I think I’d rather show you.

Hence, my top five least favorite nuggets of flirting advice for women.

Up first? The tips that really ruffled my “strong, independent woman” feathers:

1. “Ask him to lift that bulky box off the top shelf because ‘I need a strong man for this.'”

2. “‘Trip,’ fall against his chest and say, ‘Wow, you’re so athletic, I felt like I was falling into a wall.'”

Side note: Is this for real?

And now for the recommendations that made me LOL:

3. “Proclaim that you’re thinking about changing your name. Then say with a smile, ‘Do I strike you as more of a Sienna or a Bambi?'”

4. “While conversing with a cutie, lean in so you’re about six inches from his face. Linger for three counts, then slowly return to your original position.”

(Awkward!)

5. “At a restaurant, ask if you can borrow his salt shaker—even if you have to cross the room to get it.”

Okay, so you probably get the point I’m trying to make by now. Scratch that—the three points:

1. There’s great advice, and then there’s not-so-great advice. So while wisdom is good and all (*ahem*…read Proverbs), and you should definitely seek it out, stick to the sources that just feel right. In other words, go with your gut on this one (you can be pretty brilliant, you know) or the wisdom of a trusted mentor. I know I have mine.
2. Confidence is an important quality to nurture (read Proverbs 31 for more important qualities to possess), and yes, it’s attractive. But confidence means presenting your best self, and that self should exude integrity, authenticity and intelligence.
3. If you really want to connect with somebody, try focusing less on the type of person you think you ought to be, and more on recognizing the qualities of somebody who best complements the person you already are. Otherwise, you may just miss one another.

Now get out there, be your fabulous self and breathe a little easier today, even if that’s only because we aren’t suggesting that you linger six inches from somebody’s face (see tip #4).