How to Be Cool

Many people think that being part of a particular crowd or doing what you see a lot of other people doing makes you cool. That is not necessarily true. What is cool to one person may not be cool to another. Being cool is a matter of personal perspective, not a matter of what the majority does rules.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• The willingness to be yourself
• Self-confidence
• Kindness and respect towards others

How to Be Cool

1. In order to be cool, you have to be yourself. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad because you don’t act a certain way, dress a certain way, listen to a particular type of music, or because you have different interests and tastes than they do. Being cool does not mean you have to be like everyone else.

2. Don’t conform to what you see other people doing just because you think that’s the popular thing to do. Even if you get teased for standing out as a unique individual, don’t let others cause you to change who you are. If you want to change, do it because it’s what you really want to do. Don’t change to try to get people to like you. People should accept you as you are. If someone doesn’t accept you as you are then you are better off without them.

3. Express yourself. Don’t be afraid to explore your hobbies and interests. Don’t compare yourself to others and don’t worry if you stand out because of the things you enjoy doing. Oftentimes, people will only talk negatively about you or make fun of you because they are jealous of you. Some people pick on others in order to feel better about themselves but don’t let this stop you from being true to yourself. Always stand your ground. Don’t let anyone instill fear in you or make you feel like you’re any less important than anyone else.

4. Be a good friend. Even if you and your friends don’t share all of the same interests, accept each other and always treat each other with kindness and respect. Good friends can be hard to find. True friends will accept you for who you are and automatically think you’re cool anyway. Stick up for each other and encourage each other.

5. Don’t talk about or make fun of others. Do not purposely annoy people or give them a hard time. Some people think that this makes them cool but it doesn’t. It is hurtful behavior and people will probably view you as a bully and not consider you to be a nice person. You don’t want to come of in a negative light to others. Being mean or cruel will make other people not want to be around you. Treat others the way you want to be treated.

6. General things like practicing good hygiene and being well groomed make a big difference. Body odors and bad breath can be offensive to others so this is something to keep in mind. Also, practice being friendly to others. A smile can go a long way. Introduce yourself to others and join activities or clubs that you’re interested in. This will enable you to find people who share some of your interests. Above all, just try to be relaxed, confident, and true to yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• Don’t let other people’s judgments make you feel bad about yourself. Recognize your strengths and build upon them.
• Know that there is no one definition of being cool. People can be cool in their own way. The whole world doesn’t have to agree with your definition of cool. Just accept yourself for who you are and try to feel good about yourself. You are a unique individual and that in itself is cool.