An old English proverb says, “The eyes are windows to the soul.” How true this is! And what profound meaning it carries as we think about how to make them more beautiful.

A friend of mine has had permanent eye cosmetic procedures, including permanent eyeliner and new eyebrows. She paid a pretty penny for each procedure and periodic touch-ups are required. She looks beautiful! Her confidence skyrocketed after each procedure and she is now thinking about wearing colored contact lenses.

I have noticed over the past several months, however, that my friend has become dispirited. The excitement and confidence she felt following her eye enhancements has worn off. She frets constantly about her finances, family and job. She notices everything that is wrong with her life, while shrugging off any suggestion about what might be right with it. Her eyes are dull and tired. Windows to her soul, indeed.

While advances in cosmetology and technology can certainly help us appear more beautiful, the long-lasting secret to gorgeous eyes is to light them from within! Here are five no-cost suggestions for creating beautiful, alluring eyes.

1. Pay attention. Whether you are conversing with a friend, attending a meeting, serving a customer or finding your way to a new location, paying keen attention engages your mind and imagination. Your eyes shine with alertness and interest.

2. Be curious. The fastest, most cost effective way to brighten tired eyes is to wonder about something and go in search of information. Curiosity opens the mind to exploration and discovery. Curious eyes also open wider and radiate energy.

3. Practice appreciation. Have you ever seen a person’s eyes soften when they see a puppy, a spectacular sunset or a loved one? Appreciation makes eyes glow with happiness, serenity and quiet joy. For beautiful eyes, find something in your world each day to appreciate. Make time to really see the things that are dear to you. Keep a notebook of these gifts to remind yourself—and soften your eyes—on blue days.

4. Share laughter. Next time you laugh with a friend, notice how her eyes sparkle. Watch children laugh and you will see excitement and pure joy pour from their eyes. How contagious this is! And sadly, how rare it is becoming.

Our world has grown colder, darker and more somber as the worries of the past year have preoccupied us. You may feel sometimes that laughter is inappropriate, that it somehow belittles your concerns. But laughter keeps the soul fresh and the eyes animated. It makes people wonder what you’re up to. This curiosity lights up their eyes, too.

5. Engage with others. Barbara Streisand famously sang, “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.” The happiest, too! Whether listening to others, appreciating idiosyncrasies, sharing insights or telling stories, people who connect with others look more alive. Their eyes shine with curiosity, sparkle with appreciation and twinkle with humor.

These are basic, everyday practices that can, admittedly, seem too bland or too time-consuming to make any difference. It may seem easier to pay for newfangled procedures that promise remarkable beauty results.

But your eyes tell the world what is going on inside your heart and mind. No cosmetics, permanent or otherwise, can disguise pain, fear or fatigue. That’s an inside job that starts between your ears.

If you want eyes that sparkle and glow, take care of your health, get enough sleep and get out into the world! Find things to be curious about. Seek new ideas. Call people you find interesting. Visit new places. Even gas stations and pharmacies can be as interesting as coffee shops and museums if you visit them with the right mindset. Pay attention to what’s happening in your part of the world and be grateful for each new day.

I promise that if you embrace these five simple habits and practice them on purpose, your friends and colleagues will begin noticing something different about you. Don’t be surprised if someone you have known a long time suddenly notices how beautiful your eyes are.