Your mother always told you that you only get one chance to make a first impression and first impressions can make or break you. Women look at every last detail, from your tasseled shoes to amount of goop you have in your hair. Be honest guys, women aren’t only ones who try on five different outfits before deciding what to wear for a night out on town. And it is perfectly normal. But how do you know which outfit is right one to impress girl on your first date?

Let me take you through it step by step. Clothes aren’t only thing a woman looks at when you’re dressing to impress; it’s whole package. Fortunately or not, outside is what she sees first. What you see is sometimes what you get. So what do you wear?

Out with Old…

Rule number one is: don’t under dress. Guys have a tendency to pull on a pair of pants and first shirt they find and head out door. You have to look put-together, like some sort of effort was made for her. So take those ratty, old tennis shoes and toss ‘em! Take your t-shirts with big, loud prints and forget about them! And yes, women think carpenters are sexy but that doesn’t give you green light to wear your paint-stained jeans. The solution is simple. Ask a friend (male or female) over day of your big date. Not only will they help calm your nerves but they’ll also give you their honest opinion on your chosen outfit. Second, an iron can also be a man’s best friend. You’d be surprised what a little pressing can do to change your look. Finally, don’t rush! There’s nothing wrong with taking an extra half hour to prepare. If you take time to get ready, your date will take time to notice.

…In with New

Of course you have. (I’m assuming that very few people, if any, put themselves in villain’s or bad guy’s shoes.)

In fact, after watching a show with characters that exemplify courage, you most likely feel renewed strength. You feel more courageous...like nothing can get in your way...like you could conquer any mountain that gets in your path.

You probably even catch yourself sometimes moving (and thinking) way courageous character does. For example, after watching a movie like Gladiator, you would walk out of movie theatre with a feeling of intense courage you did not feel when you first walked in (assuming, of course, that you didn't watch it at home). You feel like you’ve somehow merged with heroic character—as if his courageous spirit was transferred to you.

Why do you suppose this is?

I would say, it’s because we can somehow relate to courageous character. Deep down inside us, we know we also have that kind of courage...and that we’ve felt that kind of courage many times in our lives (as children, most especially—and as adults, for some of us)—and in different situations (of course, not necessarily in battlefield).

At a subconscious level, we know we already possess absolute courage (due to fact that “we are spirits living inside physical bodies”—something I briefly wrote about in my article, 12 Ways To Unleash The Courage Within), yet sometimes, we feel that we haven’t quite unleashed it (at least, not consistently) to degree that we see in others. And that’s mainly reason why we look up to these heroes, courageous characters, or role models of courage. (Would you agree that trait you usually admire in others is trait you want to see/have more in yourself? I’m sure you would.)

(This is most likely reason why more and more film producers are coming out with movies such as Gladiator, Troy, The Last Samurai, Braveheart, and like. They know that people become more in touch with courageous part of themselves—thus are moved deeply—when they watch these types of movies.)

On other hand, have you also noticed that it usually makes you somewhat annoyed, or even angry, when you watch a cowardly character who does not take a stand for what he/she believes is right? (Or someone who abandons his/her post at first sign of danger? Or when going gets tough?) The truth is, we don’t like to see that quality in others because that is very quality we don’t want to see (or have) in ourselves.

Simply put, cowardice is not an admirable trait. It never has been, and it never will be.

One thing, though...let us not confuse feeling afraid/fear with cowardice...for a person can be afraid and still muster courage to take action on what he/she thinks is right.

Here are some good quotes regarding cowardice:

Fear has its use but cowardice has none

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

To know what is right and not to do it is worst cowardice.

~ Confucius ~

When his duty is to face danger and he flees, it is cowardice.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

It is any day better to stand erect with a broken and bandaged head then to crawl on one's belly, in order to be able to save one's head.