This advice is too basic for RPers with some experience. But in light of the influx of new guys, a short thought.

"Be Yourself" is the biggest crock of shit ever sold by the mainstream self-help and dating "experts." You've "been yourself" for your whole life-- and it hasn't got you shit to show for it. This doesn't mean you up and change yourself fundamentally. You don't go from sysadmin neckbeard nerd to Biker Bad Boy in a month.

This means you must realize that what you think of as "yourself" can change with your conscious guidance. I used to dress sloppily, wouldn't shave consistently, wouldn't trim facial/pubes consistently, I would put off getting a haircut until it was painfully too long. I thought "its all superficial nonsense, I just have to Be Myself™" That didn't get me laid and it didn't get me the respect of those around me. It is superficial; but it's not nonsense.

I started shaving and trimming regularly with high quality razors/trimmers. I get my haircut at a high quality place, and I do it every 6 to 8 weeks. I don't cheap out on the quality of the cut. I bought nicer clothes, and I got them tailored to fit me. And shoes -- don't forget to get nice shoes. A pair of good boots, a pair of good loafers, a pair of suit-worthy dress shoes, and some walking around athletic or hiking shoes. I wear only black ankle socks (people, women especially, WILL judge you for wearing shin high tube socks). Search this sub for other basic style guides. They are immensely helpful. (As a side note, nobody talked about this shit being superficial in the 50s...)

Now after seeing myself looking good and looking sharp this way, I see this as myself. When I dress sloppily, I don't feel like myself anymore. I feel like a scrub with low SMV. This will happen to you too. You will become comfortable, and even prefer being like this. And this applies to everything. If you try to have a positive outlook on life, and consistently strive to have a positive mental dialogue -- you will become a more positive person and that will be you. Your perspective will change, and you will have changed. It sounds dumb, but having a positive story about yourself in your head will change the way you feel about yourself and about the world.

So don't "Be Yourself™" Strive to be the best version of yourself. Find a weakness and fix it. Find a strength and capitalize on it. Be better than you are. Maximize you.