10 Tiny Behaviors That Make You So Much More Mysterious

We live in a world where everyone shouts to be heard and seen. Going against the grain will give you momentum and is good for your mental health because you aren’t competing with the majority. Here’s how to be different and nurture an air of mystery.

Here at 10 tiny behaviors that make you more mysterious:

1. Don't share everything off the bat

Most people jabber on about all kinds of junk, and a lot of that stuff is fabricated nonsense designed to fill awkward silences and embellish who they are. Those who turn heads don’t speak as much as most and don’t reveal everything about themselves. But when they do, it’s straight honesty. Perhaps you take the courage to share what feels uncomfortable, or you’re willing to admit when you made a mistake. This kind of communication is refreshing and relieves stress because you aren’t walking around trying to be anyone you're not. 

RELATED: How To Be More Honest, Even When It's Hard

2. Create intrigue 

Coughing out everything about you too early will be met as one would greet a cat’s hairball — indifference at best. Create intrigue by holding back on sharing all your gripes, woes, stories, and personal plans. If others know it all, there’s no more incentive to find out more.

3. Follow your strange

Most people spend their lives doing things for others instead of for themselves. The power to conform and seek approval is strong for many. But mysterious people buck this force and follow their strange. They listen to their inner sub-woofer and do what intrigues them. Follow your intrigue, and you, in turn, will be intriguing.

RELATED: 5 Rare Traits Of People Often Described As The Most Interesting In The Room

4. Be curious about others

Finding a genuine interest in others will set you apart. Not only will this get you valuable intel about other people, which you can learn from, but it will place attention away from you and onto others. This keeps people guessing while poking their curiosity about you.

5. Know your purpose

We don’t always need a verbalized life mission to act with purpose, but it might help to know what it is you're striving for. You needn’t tell people what it is, but this awareness will enliven you, infuse vigor into your actions, and put a sparkle in your eye. People will wonder what you’re up to and why you’re not always available.

6. Disappear occasionally

Color will drain from the vision people have of you if you’re always seen. Mystery will fade if you show up in someone’s face at 9 a.m. sharp every day. Strategically disappear occasionally. Make people miss you. Have others wonder about whether they offended you a little. When you return, your presence will be a relief and a pleasant surprise.

7. Be a little mischievous

While everyone else is on their best behavior, desperately seeking validation and obsessively focused on avoiding offending others, you’re a cheeky little sprite. This requires some finesse, but in short, it’s OK to occasionally tease, use a sprinkling of light-hearted humor, and demonstrate that you’re enjoying yourself — which you are.

RELATED: 15 Signs You're A Mysterious Person (And People Are Intrigued By You)

8. Let others discover you themselves

It might strike you as a no-brainer to blurt out your recent achievements when given the opportunity, but that’s too easy. Let others learn about your little successes and talents on their own or only after light prompting. When they do, the effect will be felt with an extra dash of electricity, and their admiration for you will jump.

9. Tell people something they ‘don’t know’ about themselves

In a similar vein to ‘cold-reading,’ adopt the persona of a magician with a vision and make some guesses about the kind of person you are with. These needn’t be easily verified claims, like someone’s place of birth, but rather, tell someone what you think they would enjoy that they haven’t yet tried, for example.

10. Be unexpected

Earlier, we spoke about occasionally disappearing. This is an excellent example of taking a pattern of expectation others have for you (showing up every day, for example) and switching it up. Be unexpected in other areas. You may change the way you work or dress or the type of topics you write about. You might give someone a surprise gift who least expects it. Have fun and mix things up. This will create a delicious air of mystery around you to which people will be inexplicably drawn.

RELATED: Steal These 9 Hacks If You Want To Become More Mysterious & Alluring

Alex Mathers is a writer and coach who helps you build a money-making personal brand with your knowledge and skills while staying mentally resilient.