Looking Good vs. Feeling Good: A Cheat Sheet for Deciding Where You Stand
“Om Shanti Om” or “Sharp Dressed Man”? It’s the age-old conundrum: Better to chase inner peace or external perfection? The prevailing wisdom couldn’t be more at odds. Christian Dior once said, “Happiness is the secret to all beauty,” while Billy Crystal, channeling golden-age Hollywood star Fernando Lamas on SNL, made a catchphrase out of “It’s better to look good than to feel good.” Some say you shouldn’t have to choose, but those are the same people who pretend they like going to bed at nine and ordering a salad for lunch. So make use of our handy cheat sheet—but select wisely: Which you pick says a lot about you as a person. (Oh, who are we kidding? You already went with looking good—we did, too.)
PATRON SAINT More from Robb Report Narcissus Likes: Narcissus, Narcissus, Narcissus, Narcissus… Dislikes: Shallow bodies of water. | PATRON SAINT Dionysus Likes: Wine, sex, partying, madness, ecstasy, feasts. Dislikes: Monday mornings. |
MARKET CAP Some back-of-the-napkin math tallying the combined values of the fashion, cosmetic-surgery, fitness, and jewelry industries puts the figure at nearly $2,300,000,000,000. | MARKET CAP Alcohol alone is worth $1.9 trillion, with cannabis accounting for another $27.7 billion. The mental-health industry clocks in at around $375.2 billion, but really, that should be subtracted from the first two (seriously, it’s time to admit that that’s a lot of self-medicating) and you’re left with about $1,500,000,000,000. |
WORDS TO LIVE BY “Clothes make the man.” | WORDS TO LIVE BY “The first wealth is health.” |
WORTH DYING FOR? Gentlemen of the Edwardian era wore collars so heavily starched they could cut off blood supply to the carotid artery, earning them the German nickname Vatermörder, or father killers.  Print Collector via Getty Images | WORTH DYING FOR? An uncanny number of rock stars—including Jimi Hendrix, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and Jim Morrison—took “feeling good” to such an extreme that they never lived to see their 28th birthdays, giving rise to the so-called 27 Club.  Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images |
UNEXPECTED ANTHEM “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon. You probably think this song is about you, don’t you? (It’s not.) | UNEXPECTED ANTHEM “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by the Rolling Stones. Ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus, from whom we derive the term “epicurean,” wasn’t actually a hedonist—he believed true pleasure came not from acquiring things but by limiting desires. |
CAN’T IT BE BOTH? In your quest for a six-pack, all that exercise is releasing feel-good endorphins, improving brain health, and reducing cortisol levels while also improving body image—a major self-confidence booster.  Mark Sykes | CAN’T IT BE BOTH? Studies show that people find relaxed and open facial expressions—not to mention smiles—more attractive.  Stock Adobe |
QUICK FIX A five-day, four-night Advanced Aesthetic Beauty regime at Clinique La Prairie in Montreux, Switzerland, will trim, tone, brighten, and rejuvenate via yoga, personal training, massage, lymphatic drainage, dental antiaging, hair regeneration, fine-line reduction, Swiss-detox herbal infusions, cryotherapy, infratherapy, and more. (About $22,400)  Stock Adobe | QUICK FIX Shot of whiskey ($8)  Yannawit Dhammasaro |
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