What do the movies ‘’Clueless’’, ‘’The Princess Diaries’’, ‘’The Devil Wears Prada’’, ’’Grease’, ‘’The Duff’’ and ‘’Mean Girls’’ all have in common? Yes, they’re commercially successful, trend-setting classics, but another thing that they all have in common is that at least one of the main characters in each of these films undergoes a major transformation with a makeover.
This trend of showcasing makeovers and transformations isn’t new in media. The story of the ugly duckling blossoming into a graceful swan is both universally and timelessly appealing. It’s worth noting that more often than not, these transformations are more or less superficial and at times quite radical. [Remember how Sandy starts smoking just to impress Danny in Grease?]. These makeovers only focus on the outside, while ignoring the inside completely. Movies are fun, but in real life, until you also improve your personality and focus on becoming a better person, your life isn’t going to change at all. Here are some tips to do just that:
1. Pick up a new hobby: You know that skill you’ve always wanted to learn, but kept postponing? Not anymore. It’s time to take the bull by its horns and start. It could be anything- gardening, playing an instrument, a new language, ballet…etc. Pick one that interests you and set some fun goals with rewards at the end. Before you know it, you’ll be well into it and even enjoying it!
2. Meet a new person: When I say meeting someone new, I mean you could try to speak to someone whom you tentatively know, but haven’t spoken to yet. It could be someone on social media you’re connected with, and maybe you can take your friendship from digital to personal and get a coffee!
3. Choose something you’d like to change: Now this is a call for some self-reflection. We all have toxic traits we could do without. These traits are bringing us down and preventing us from where we want to be in life. Unless we actually do something, this will continue. It could be some bad habits or some undesirable qualities that you’d be a lot better without.
Identifying and writing a toxic trait down on a piece of paper is the first step to dealing with it. Then write down what needs to change and how it can be done. Pen down your weaknesses, the excuses you make to justify them and put them all around the house. Here’s the hard part: Get on with it. No excuses. It’s not easy, but life’s not easy. It’ll be hard at first, but I promise you that it gets easier and it’s worth it. Your future success will thank you for it later.
4. Take the plunge: We dream of doing a lot of things in our lifetime. We even make elaborate plans for doing them and try to imagine what it’d be like once we’ve manifested that vision. But we often forget the most important part: Doing it.
Taking the plunge is the same as changing bad habits- you have to stop making excuses and just do it, no matter how uncomfortable it feels. You’ll get used to it after a while, and it’ll even become a routine by then. After all, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. If that first step isn’t taken, then the journey can’t be made. So go ahead and dive into the deep end.
5. Take care of your health: Ironically, the most attractive people are those who are healthy and take care of themselves. You don’t need to spend big bucks to look good. Eating healthy, exercising, maintaining your personal hygiene and sleeping well will do it for you. These habits help you feel fresh and young, as well. It’s a win-win situation.
6. Filter out toxic people: The selfish friend, the narcissistic partner, the enabling colleagues- they all fit into this category. What you allow will continue. There’s nothing wrong with cutting such people out. Their toxicity handed you the scissors. In order to have a real internal makeover, you need to start respecting yourself and setting boundaries. This will pave the way for a more mature and wiser you. Never forget: Those who truly respect you and value you will never overstep your boundaries. The more you value yourself and your time, the more high-calibre people will be attracted to you.
7. Improve the way you look: Now don’t get me wrong. I do believe that who you are matters more than what you look like, and that’s what this article has been all about. You can get a new haircut, change up your wardrobe or even experiment with a new lip color. The choice is yours. There’s an argument to be made that looking your best makes you feel your best and makes a good impression on everyone you meet. However, it’s important to keep in mind that a pretty face isn’t enough to mask a spiteful mind and a worn out heart.
8. Help out: One of the best ways to give back to the world is through charity. There are tons or NGOs and charity centers that could use your support, be it through volunteering or donations (monetary/items). But if you don’t have the time or the resources required, you can always lend a helping hand to anyone in your community. Whether it’s buying groceries for the elderly neighbor down the street or helping mentor a young child, even small acts can make a big difference. And in a world that’s rife with cruelty, a little kindness can go a long way.
9. Forgiveness: No article on inner beauty, personality development or being a better person is complete without mentioning forgiveness. While it might be a cliché, it’s a necessary factor in becoming a better person. You can’t move on if your heart is stuck in the past. In order to move on, it’s important to forgive those who hurt you. While you needn’t be best friends with them, you shouldn’t hold on to that bitterness. You’re better than that. It might be hard, but it’s worth it in the end. Life is too short to hold grudges.
BONUS TIP: Read. Read like the ink in the book is oxygen and you’re gasping for your last breath. Fiction, Spirituality, Higher Thinking, Relationships….just choose a genre you’re interested in. The cognitive benefits of reading are well-known. Reading can help you learn and become a better person. So pick up a book right now!
(For more recommendations and genres, check out our Book List article)
CLOSING THOUGHTS:
This kind of internal makeover is much harder than the glamorous Hollywood ones. But it’s the one that’ll not only change the way you look, but also transform your circumstances and life. External makeovers don’t account for much if you remain the same internally. Changing yourself to become a better person starts with you. This is the real glow-up. It does require a lot of effort, but the ends justify the means, as you’ll see yourself turning into the truly radiant person inside and out that you’ve always dreamed of becoming.
