*The following piece is satire, sort of.

Many people think that brain rot is a funny topic. (Believe it or not, it’s Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year, defined as “low quality online internet content.”) And brain rot is taking social media by storm, becoming a part of teenager’s everyday conversations. 

But I’m here to tell you that not all brain rot is rot, specifically, the trend of maxxing out your aura, which I assure you is no joke. 

There are millions of high schoolers around the world struggling to rizz up, maybe flirt with some people, and getting bullied by the opps in the process. 

But let’s face it, we all want to hit our peak, we all want to max out our aura, just like all the coolest people who came before us.

Maxing out your aura is essentially defined as developing as much swagger as possible. Think of cool guy actors like James Dean, Robert Downey Junior, Leo DiCaprio… These people are thought of as having an inconceivable level of aura, and they are revered by just about everyone.

Aura has always been there, even if we didn’t realize it until recently. So what do these characters have that we’re missing? What did they ultimately do to become the greats, with auras we can only dream of? 

It’s time we dig deep to discover what makes these people max out, so we can ourselves.  

After long contemplation, I’ve discovered the most important tips to gain, and if you’re hungry, read on to find out what they are.

Leveling Up Step 1: Mastering the Art of Nonchalant

Titans of aura are known for their ability to remain cool and chill in any situation. Whether in danger or safety, these people are always calm and collected, confident in their strengths, with no weaknesses. 

They are usually quiet, and may often sit in silence, giving gravitas and a sense of importance to every word they eventually speak. People of maximum aura don’t seek attention, attention seeks them. So how can you, dear reader, pull this off:

• Hands in your pockets: This classic move symbolizes that you’re relaxed and confident enough to have your guard down. 
• Overcome your fears: If you can overcome all your fears, there will only be aura left, for aura is simply the absence of fear.
• Do not seek others’ approval: Seek not the approval of others, and they will approve of you.
• Think before you speak: Since childhood our parents have tried to teach us to have aura. Listen to them, only speak what is necessary to be spoken.

Leveling Up Step 2: Strength and Humility

Men and women of max aura are strong in every aspect of their life. As mentioned before, they do not allow themselves to have any weaknesses. 

If they set out on doing something, they do not stop until they’ve mastered it. They do not burden others with their emotions, but they are also confident enough to express their emotions. Aura requires strength, yet they always remember their strength is a gift, and they never express vanity. Read on to stay humble and strong: 

• Study, everything: Accept that you know nothing. Strive to learn more like your life depends on it. Your thirst for knowledge should never be satiated.
• Push your body to its limits: Workout, and enhance your physical strength. Do this not for vanity and looks, but to make others feel protected in your presence. 
• Discipline: Learn control over your emotions, understanding when and when not to express them. This will reinforce all your strengths as a whole.

Leveling Up Step 3: Priority and Sacrifice

All the legends of aura are known for their ability to make decisive decisions that change the world. Some crucial examples include Ironman’s classic snap scene in Avengers Endgame, Boromir’s sacrifice for the hobbits in Lord of the Rings, or Katniss Everdeen’s volunteering for her sister’s place in The Hunger Games. To level up your aura, you need to understand decisiveness and the importance of sacrifice. Here are some tips on how to max in this area: 

• Selflessness: You must learn to discern when your own needs and the needs of others come first. Sometimes your own will is most important, but when it comes to the greater good, you must be ready for the call. 
• Priorities: To truly max out, you need to accept that you have priorities that come first. Where you want to go in life, and what you want to do will require you to sacrifice relationships. Remember: the greatest sacrifices require the greatest wills, and priority comes over pain.
• The Mission: Aura requires direction. You must always have a goal, something you are striving towards. Without a mission your life becomes meaningless, so make sure to never lose sight of the next objective.

So there you have it— everything you need to be the next Aragorn or Johnny Depp.  Just remember that aura comes with a cost. People will admire you, and they will strive to be like you. But you’ll be ready for the sacrifice.  

Now go out, embrace the power of your aura, and watch as it transforms your world and the world of everyone around you.