Are you new to the Catholic faith? Welcome home! Wanting to date and find a Catholic online? Here are some tips to get you started!
In this article, we’ll be covering:
- 3 things to keep in mind if you’re wondering how to fill out your online dating profile
- Why 40% of Americans have an online dating profile right now
- 6 tips to remember about your dating profile online
So you love your new faith and now you’re looking to date
But you’re not sure how to complete your profile
Online dating profiles can be intimidating. You have to select a picture, fill out forms, answer questions, and make a good impression all at once.
Your profile is the way that other people online get to know you.
Remember these 3 things
Before you fill out your online dating profile, there are some things you should think (and pray!) about. Here are three things to take to thought and prayer before logging online.
If you’re wondering how to write a profile that authentically represents you, you’re in luck. Here are three things to remember.
1. Be true to yourself and to God
It’s normal to want to make a good first impression with your dating profile. But there’s only one person you really need to please, and that’s the Lord.
You don’t have to hustle for your worth in the online dating world. So the first thing to keep in mind is to be true to who you are, and remember that you are God’s beloved. That’s a fact that doesn’t change no matter how many views your profile gets or how many messages people send you.
2. You’re unique and special
Your story is unique to you. How you grew up, what your hobbies are, and how you found the Catholic Church are all things that only you have experienced.
Tell your unique story on your profile. Otherwise, you’re just advertising for someone else’s story, not your own. You don’t know what every person is looking for when they log into their dating profile and pull up your information. But you do know who you are, and what your unique story is! So share that, and be yourself.
3. Enjoy the moment and have fun
Online dating isn’t meant to be a torture device.
If you’re stressing while filling out your online dating profile, take a break and walk away. Get to the root of what is worrying you.
Are you concerned about what people will think of you? Worried that no one will respond to your messages? Take time to pray and think through what is worrying you before coming back to your profile.
Dating is a great way to meet people and meet the person you’ll spend the rest of your life with!
Did you know that 40% of Americans use online dating?
Meeting someone online used to carry the stigma of desperation. That’s not true anymore!
With so many online dating apps and website available, meeting someone online has become normal.
Today, 27% of young adults report having an online dating profile, which is up from the 10% of people in 2013.
If you’re in the 55 to 64 year old age range, there’s been a 6% increase in online dating users in that generation from 2013 to 2015!
So if you’re looking to go online, you’re not alone.
6 tips for your profile
Still wondering how to put the finishing touches on your profile? Here are six tips to help you put your best foot forward.
1. Say positive things about yourself
When filling out your profile, remember to be positive about who you are, what you enjoy, and what you’re looking for in a partner.
Imagine if you were meeting someone at a job interview for the first time. You wouldn’t want to start out by talking about how much you don’t enjoy their company! With online dating, you don’t want your first impression with someone to be filled with negative remarks and pessimism.
What areas of your profile does a positive attitude matter? Here are a few to keep in mind:
Talk about personality
Your online dating profile should share with others a short story about your personality. Maybe you’re an introverted engineer who loves tinkering with electronics. Or your profile tells the story of an adventurous traveler looking for someone to travel the world with. Regardless of the details of your own unique, individual story, make sure that your personality shines through your writing.
Traits
Start off by listing three or four adjectives that describe your personality traits. Are you outgoing, funny, and compassionate? Loyal, curious, and intellectual?
Struggling to come up with a list of traits? Imagine how a friend would describe you. Better yet, give an old friend a call and ask them to describe you as if they were setting you up on a blind date. Jot down some notes from your conversation with them and include them in your profile!
Likes
What you’re passionate about reveals a lot about who you are. Do you spend the weekend outdoors? Love movie marathons during the cold winter months? Share your passions and likes on your online profile to allow others to get a sneak peek into your world.
Common hobbies and interests are great icebreakers for future conversation, too! You never know, maybe someone browsing your profile will send you a message because they have a love of bicycling, too!
Dislikes
Just like it’s healthy to share what you enjoy, you can also share what you don’t enjoy. But don’t go on and on about what you don’t like doing (remember what we said earlier about negativity?). Instead, put more emphasis on what you enjoy. It’s easier to attract someone who you’d like to get to know better than to send the wrong people packing.
Values
What are your core values? “My recommendation is to select less than five core values to focus on. If everything is a core value, then nothing is really a priority,” writes James Clear.
He goes on to list core values that are commonly used by leadership institutes and program. They include things like “authenticity” and “boldness”, “compassion” and “fairness”. Pick three values that describe your personality and one that you’re striving for. Then write a little about why each value means something to you.
2. Tell your unique story
Your story is unique!
Family
Where did you grow up? What is the most important lesson your parents taught you about love? Why is Christmas time at your grandparents especially special for you?
You’re logging online to look for love, but you’re still a daughter, son, aunt, uncle, cousin, or godparent. Share what makes your family unique and what you love the most about them.
Community
Where do you go to Mass at? Are you involved in community activities?
Don’t be afraid to share about your friend group and what activities you enjoy doing together. An old saying says “show me who your friends are and I’ll show you your future”. When someone is getting to know you, tell them about your friends and community so they can get a fuller picture of who influences you, too.
Accomplishments
What accomplishment in your life are you the most proud and passionate about? Is it the fact that you just completed your first marathon after months of training? Maybe you finished your sixth book for the year and you’re almost to your goal of reading ten before New Years arrives.
Share how you spend your free time and enjoy life.
3. Talk about your faith and your relationship with God
As someone who has newly converted to the Catholic faith, you have a rich and beautiful story to tell. What first sparked your interest in the Catholic Church? Who was the biggest influence when it came to taking the first step towards conversion?
Just like the story of your family and your talents is unique, the story of your faith life is unique, too!
4. Share what makes you YOU
Lots of people may love to bicycle, but only you can tell the story of whats sparked your interest in the sport. Instead of sharing vague descriptions, dig into why you’re specifically passionate about them.
Your hobbies
Don’t just say that you enjoy having a good time. Instead, let others know what having a good time means to you specifically. Whether that’s bowling, painting, or something completely unique to you, talk about your hobbies.
Work
Where do you work at? What makes your work interesting? Why did you chose that career path? Sharing about what your 9 – 5 looks like allows people to get a glance into your day.
5. Stay true to yourself
53% of people who fill out online dating profiles admit to lying about some information they share. What are they lying about? Their age, weight, height, and how much money they make.
Some people used an older photo of themselves. 40% of the men surveyed said they lied about their jobs because they wanted to seem more professional and successful.
Just because a majority of people online are lying doesn’t mean it’s okay, though. In fact, in the company of so many fibs, a truthful and honest profile stands out!
Don’t put things on your profile just because it sounds good, or you think people would want to hear it.
6. Don’t rush to complete your profile
Maybe you’re feeling the pressure to hurry up and find someone special. Don’t rush through your online dating profile. Be authentic with your writing and take a break if it means giving yourself some space to think.
There’s no timeline that you’re operating on, after all. Don’t stress if it’s been a few days since you’ve filled out some profile information. Instead, enjoy the process!
Give yourself time to find a great match
Once your profile is complete, it’s important to remember that the timeline for each person who has an online dating profile is different. Some people meet a great match right away, others take months to find someone they’re compatible with.
If you’re new to practicing Catholicism, compatibility with another Catholic is important! Your relationship with them can foster growth in both of your faith lives.
Conclusion
If you’re new to Catholicism and want to meet a Catholic online, there are some great resources out there for you. But before you fill out all the details and pick a profile picture, remember that you are God’s beloved. So be true to yourself and have fun!
Since quite a few Americans currently use online dating as away to meet other people, dating websites are a great way to get to know other Catholics.
Make sure to be honest about your story. Don’t be afraid to share with others how you found the Catholic Church!
Also, don’t forget be patient with all things (especially yourself!). Don’t give into the pressure to fill out your profile right away and all at once. Take time to think about what you’d like to say to others and be intentional with your profile.
Online dating is a great way to meet other Catholics, especially if you’re new to Catholicism! And, most importantly, welcome home!
