The prettiest picture I could find of Mata HariMata Hari illustrated two things, as far as I can see:
1. how people whom you would not actually describe as 'beautiful' can carry themselves in such a way that they 'create' charisma and an air of mystery [the French are masters of this], as distinct from being natural charismatic as people;
2. that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Anne Boleyn [forgive me for not using the other spelling] was also counted not beautiful and yet she had enough to keep the red-blooded Henry sufficiently enthralled but out of her bed for around seven years. How many more, both men and women, could be counted in that category? Would you put Groucho Marx in there?
I suspect there's a lot of arrogance and 'lack of caring beneath the caring' in many charismatic people and they tend to polarize opinion. On the other hand, just the simple character trait of being interested in and caring for others [and I hold up my mother in this category] illustrates the point well. Pity you never got to know her though undoubtedly yours was also the goods.
I wonder how much of a role a smile plays. McDonalds seems to think it's pretty important.
A detractor made the comment on an earlier post that, 'Really, it's being such a cynic that keeps you happy, isn't it? The thing about being in a down time is to remember it is not everyone's fault, may not be yours, may be no one's at all!'
Well no, cynicism doesn't keep a person happy - quite the opposite. She was right, however, in the sense that a positive outlook itself is more pleasant for all around and that's what I think she was driving at. Which brings us to the next point.
People prefer other people to have cheery countenances 24/7 and the vacuum created by current social conditions means that there is a premium on a smile and a person with one [though not a permasmile] is more likely to do well. That, in a way, is a form of charisma by default.
1. how people whom you would not actually describe as 'beautiful' can carry themselves in such a way that they 'create' charisma and an air of mystery [the French are masters of this], as distinct from being natural charismatic as people;
2. that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Anne Boleyn [forgive me for not using the other spelling] was also counted not beautiful and yet she had enough to keep the red-blooded Henry sufficiently enthralled but out of her bed for around seven years. How many more, both men and women, could be counted in that category? Would you put Groucho Marx in there?
I suspect there's a lot of arrogance and 'lack of caring beneath the caring' in many charismatic people and they tend to polarize opinion. On the other hand, just the simple character trait of being interested in and caring for others [and I hold up my mother in this category] illustrates the point well. Pity you never got to know her though undoubtedly yours was also the goods.
I wonder how much of a role a smile plays. McDonalds seems to think it's pretty important.
A detractor made the comment on an earlier post that, 'Really, it's being such a cynic that keeps you happy, isn't it? The thing about being in a down time is to remember it is not everyone's fault, may not be yours, may be no one's at all!'
Well no, cynicism doesn't keep a person happy - quite the opposite. She was right, however, in the sense that a positive outlook itself is more pleasant for all around and that's what I think she was driving at. Which brings us to the next point.
People prefer other people to have cheery countenances 24/7 and the vacuum created by current social conditions means that there is a premium on a smile and a person with one [though not a permasmile] is more likely to do well. That, in a way, is a form of charisma by default.
It could be either ;-)
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