Because a pretty face says nothing about your heart or soul; kind hearts are remembered.

“You’re so pretty!” It’s a compliment, and secretly, or maybe not so secretly it is something we enjoy. Why do we do our makeup, our hair, and obsess over outfits? Because we want to look “pretty”. It’s not necessarily because we want to impress others, but it’s because we set our own minds to such a standard that our physical appearance matters SO greatly. In the grand scheme of life, why does being “pretty” even matter? I don’t know how to do my makeup well, I know the basics; I could go out of my way to learn how, or keep living with my ugly self. I choose the second option, because there are better things in life. It used to be my goal when I woke up and got ready, to look perfect; but why do that when I could be getting more sleep or doing something that will actually help others, or myself. But instead—I was fixated on being “pretty”. Here’s where I’m going with this—being pretty IS NOT as important as you think. In this article I’m going to describe some “pretty” awesome ways to TRULY reach your full potential.

1. Strive to Be PRETTY Open-Minded

Get out out the mindset that whatever you grew up with/associated with is the ONLY way to live life, because wake-up call Honey Buns, it’s not. If you ever leave the realm of your hometown or city, you will be surrounded by a multitude of unique individuals that you’ve probably got nothing in common with. Are they hurting you? probably not. So get over yourself, and help the kid at school who is a little “weird” and in need of friends. Strike up a conversation with that girl who has nothing in common with you, because being open-minded when it comes to others is essential to self-growth and speaking in terms of culture, if you go somewhere and stare down your nose or bug eyes of confusion at someone different than you, you’re only setting yourself up for failure. Embrace difference, because internal beauty will always shine brighter than external beauty ever can.

2. Strive to Be PRETTY Generous

This is my favorite. Throughout life, I have learned this to be true: those who have the least give the most. My late uncle and Godfather is probably the best example of this when he was very ill and would STILL try to make you happy before himself, and it’s a lesson that has stuck with me throughout life. All of his children are amazing and giving people just like he was, and I strive to be at their caliber of thoughtfulness. Likewise, in my eyes and hopefully others, people of this level of selflessness and generosity are far “prettier” inside than those who won’t even spot their best friend for a coffee. It’s the little things that matter in life people, and almost one-hundred percent of the time, they aren’t things. Oh and guess what—that has nothing to do with your physical appearance.

3. Strive to Be PRETTY Outgoing

It may seem easiest to blend in with the crowd, play it safe, and live a comfortable life. WRONG. If there is something you’re afraid to do (and it’s not life-threatening, illegal, etc) THEN DO IT! Don’t let anything stop you. It’s PRETTY awesome to leave your comfort zone, and I’ll be honest, you win some, and you lose some. That’s life, but taking a risk is not something you will regret, because EITHER WAY you learned something (hopefully not enforced by injury or the police) but it was a growing experience, and to me, I’ll think you’re PRETTY flippin’ amazing (and also probably ask you a million annoying questions, sorry) because I admire those who do such courageous acts.

4. Strive to Be PRETTY Forgiving

Letting hatred and grudges rest in your head is basically giving the person who wronged you rent-free living in your brain. Not worth it. People in this world are truly evil, and I am constantly amazed with disgust at how AWFUL some people can be. But don’t get bitter; get better. How do you get better? By being the bigger person, forgiving the ones who wronged you, and moving on with your life. I’m not saying let people walk all over you and just let everything go, because often times when we forgive people and never speak to them again, it is internally peaceful for the mind and soul. Hatred and anger take a lot of energy, and if you’re anything like me, you need all of the energy you can get.

5. Be The Owner of a PRETTY Heart

This is basically tied in to all of the other bullets, but it’s the most important. Being externally pretty means basically nothing in my book, and it’s not something to judge people on. When somebody calls someone else “ugly” it makes my stomach churn, and little does the nasty gossiper know, they basically just deemed THEMSELVES as ugly by emitting such a negative pollution in the air. Think about it—why does it REALLY matter if you’re *gorgeous ~ if your heart is black and nobody likes you because you’re a raging bitch. External prettiness is ALWAYS masked by a cold heart, so even if your eyebrows are perfect and your supermodel pretty, an ugly heart won’t get you anywhere in the long run.