Does How You Look Affect How Happy You Feel?

We tend to separate how we look from how we feel, but as countless people have proven over the centuries, there is actually a strong link between the two. If you look great, you’re more likely to feel great, and vice versa. 

When you look at what’s going on at the cellular level, it’s all very interesting. It turns out that positive emotions actually send signals to the body, encouraging us to look our best. It’s one of the reasons people feel so good after going on vacation for a couple of weeks. A fortnight of relaxation has measurable effects on the body, altering cell turnover and giving people an inimitable glow. 

The Connection Between Self-Care And Wellbeing

The links between how you look and how you feel are more extensive than you might first think. Something as simple as taking a jog or looking after your skin can help you feel healthier and happier. If someone beautiful is staring at you back in the mirror, you’re going to feel much better about yourself.

But it’s not all about vanity. In fact, it’s more of a celebration. When you look after your body, you’re praising it and helping it to function at its best. And when this happens, you feel good, too. 

That’s one of the reasons why people swear by shopping trips and spa days. Wearing new converse shoes after grabbing a facial and a massage is bound to make anyone feel good. 

Self-care routines also help to bookend the day. When you start by addressing your body’s wellbeing, you’re setting the tone for what will follow. Doing your hair and putting on makeup instantly give you a feeling of confidence, changing your mood. 

Balancing Inner And Outer Beauty

To achieve ultimate wellness, it’s important to balance inner and outer beauty. While how you look can contribute to feeling good, you want to avoid putting it on a pedestal. Self-care routines should be valuable in themselves for how they make you feel. The final result shouldn’t determine the mood in which you start your day. If it does, then you’ll need to reevaluate your priorities. 

As a rule, you don’t want to feel attached to looking any particular way. Instead, you want your beauty routine to be something that supports your wellness. Reduce it to an act of self-care, and leave it at that. 

Looking Good And Feeling Good

Of course, the looking-good-feeling-good connection works both ways. If you look good on the outside, you’ll feel better on the inside. But the opposite is also true. 

We all know times in our lives when we have had to endure incredible challenges. During periods of stress, our bodies don’t work as well and it begins to show on our faces. After a couple of months, everyone starts to notice, including us. 

The trick here is to find ways to feel good, even if the situation seems bad. If you’re stressed at work, remind yourself you can always find another job. If something goes wrong in your day, just tell yourself you can fix it tomorrow. Failure isn’t final.