My friend has a lucky shirt. He wears it for interviews, for meetings, and when he's going out to meet girls. The day he had a haircut and bought some sharp new shoes he went out to a club and had an amazing time: every interaction went really well. "Girls love the shoes", he told me, "and my haircut makes me look way better".
We've all had a similar feeling. A new shirt, new dress, new shoes, new make-up, new jeans or a new haircut can make us feel amazing. We smile because we know we look good, and the world smiles back at us. People are friendlier, the weather seems better, and everybody is suddenly checking us out.
Or are they?
Our thought process on this is skewed. We think: new clothes -> we look good -> people respond better to us -> it's all thanks to the new clothes. This confuses cause and effect. People don't usually care about your shoes, your hair or your jeans. They respond to your vibe, your energy, your mood.
In fact: new clothes -> we feel good about ourselves -> we put out a good vibe -> people respond better to us -> it's all thanks to the new vibe.
In a consumerist society we feel more confident when we buy something that improves our appearance. But other people don't know that your dress is brand new and you love it. They only know that you seem happy and confident, and they want to be around you. We're drawn to people because of their vibe, not their Armani shirt.
New outfits or styles give you society's permission to feel great. More specifically, they give you permission to allow yourself to feel great. But you don't need the clothes, the watch, the haircut or the car. All you need is to feel great.
So do everything you can to feel amazing about yourself; people will respond to you in a different way. But don't wait to buy another item of expensive clothing, simply give yourself permission to feel amazing. Right here. Right now. Breathe and be happy.
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