“Intimidating”

Lately, I’ve come across this common phrase that just happens to keep creeping into my life whether I want it to or not:

“You’re just kind of really intimidating” 

Thanks? What does that even mean? Is that a compliment? A diss? What on earth?

So, I took to the internet and some friends to help me out. Now, according to my friends, this is a great characteristic to have. It means I’m powerful, strong, and know what I want (which, like, ha good one). The internet, though, takes a little different approach —

in·tim·i·date (v.): frighten or overawe (someone), especially in order to make them do what one wants. Synonyms include –  frighten, menace, terrify, scare, terrorize, threaten, torment, tyrannize, persecute (and the list goes on)

That doesn’t exactly sound endearing… While yes, I do tend to be very strong-minded and stand up for myself, I don’t think it’s something necessarily bad. I think people everywhere should take a stand for themselves, and others, whenever it’s needed. Does that make someone intimidating? Not exactly.

Maybe the problem isn’t in the definition of the word, but the word itself. Maybe we’re all just confusing something that we thought we knew, for lack of a better word to describe these types of people. This trait tends to be in people who are leaders, go-getters, and “crazy” in the eyes of those not ready to take life by the horns. People who know what it takes to get where they want and are willing to do whatever it takes to get there. People who have a plan, stick to it, and then completely change their minds for a plan 10x better.

These are the people I want to surround myself with, and if that’s intimidating, then so be it. We can all be intimidating together, and while we’re at it, we can take over the world. Better watch out, or we might just frighten, terrify, and scare you with our big dreams and bigger ambition. 😉