How to Be Popular

Being popular is not really that hard. It doesn't require absolutely stunning looks, the charisma of Brad Pitt, or money. Popular people are basically confident people who like being around other people. I remember in my freshman year of high school, I only had about nine friends. They were the people who dealt with my annoying side long enough to get to know the real me; everyone else got sick of me within minutes of meeting me. During that summer, I can't remember exactly how I changed, but I did; I went from nine friends to well over thirty. At the summer programs I went to, I was the most popular guy there. How? Keep reading.

Be Comfortable with Yourself

Do you think that George Clooney sits at award ceremonies and wonders what everyone thinks of him, his looks, or his work? Most likely, he doesn't. People who are very self-conscious about themselves don't tend to be very fun to be around for one simple reason: they're afraid to open up. It's hard to get close to someone if they won't allow you to; self-conscious people push others away to safe themselves from being judged. But here's the thing: most people either won't notice or won't care about whatever you're nervous about showing them. I have a condition called keratosis pilaris, and although I don't have a severe case of it, I used to wear long sleeved shirts in Memphis during the summer to cover it up. Luckily, my mom convinced me that people didn't really notice my skin problem. It turns out she was right!

Take Care of Your Appearance

While I did say that you didn't have to be stunningly hot to be popular, it is necessary for you to take care of yourself. Most people don't want to hang out with someone who lets their hair get tangled and dirty, or people who don't bathe regularly or people who don't wear deodorant. Also, taking care of yourself shows other people that you have a sense of self-worth. Think of your body as the temple that the people you meet will be visiting. You don't want to dirty it up or nobody will want to pray there!

Be Confident

This goes with the first tip. Confidence is attractive. The reason rock stars, athletes, and other celebrities get laid so often is because they act as if they've just bench pressed the world. You don't need money or fame to get the same effects. Just believe in yourself. I don't mean to get cheesy here, but let me give you a little push in the right direction. Out of millions and millions of sperm, you were created by the one that was faster than all the others. There was a great race in your mother's ....you know...and you were the winner! Is that fact not enough? Well here's a tip. Get a pen, a slip of paper and write this down 20 times: I am an awesome human being. I am so confident, it borderlines on arrogance. Carry that slip of paper around and say what is written on it at least 10 times a day with a huge smile. Affirmations work if you say them like you believe them.

Be Funny, But Not Too Funny

Everyone likes to laugh, so funny people tend to be popular. An easy way to become a funny person is to begin by watching a lot of stand up comedians. You'll be able to see the basic format for comedy. But be careful; you don't want to end up being the guy everyone goes to for laughs. Why? Because you end up becoming the entertainment of the group, and the people in the group will not really respect what you say because they'll just see it as another joke. There is a guy I know who used to try to get women to date him by making them laugh. They would love his jokes...but they wouldn't date him. Once he started toning down his whole funny act, he began to get a lot more dates. And I mean A LOT.

Learn Everyone's Name and Be Positive, Compassionate, and Fun

There's something about having someone know your name that makes you feel good inside. It makes you feel important and cared about, especially if the person who knows your name is a popular person. If you really want to be popular, you'll have to drop that whole "I'm not good with names" act and remember people's names. And lastly, just be a happier person. Don't look at life as something that happens to you; look at it as an opportunity, a blessing if you will. Negativity is not attractive. Period. Forget the whole rebel without a cause era; nobody likes a person who can't turn his lemons into lemonade. If you need help with this, buy a copy of The Art of Happiness. Learn to love people just because they're people. Be the person that doesn't hate anyone. Be the person that can smile even if he's just been robbed and lost his job. Happiness and compassion are the two most important keys to being popular.