There's a popular misconception that changing, developing or enhancing oneself is a sign of inauthenticity or a lack of self-love. However, this is far from the truth. Changing, developing and enhancing oneself can be viewed as a sign of personal growth, identity discovering and confidence boosting.
…After all, we’ve put the years in and the body has taken some hits along the way, both inside and out.
We all strive to improve ourselves in various obvious ways, whether it's through physical fitness, mental wellness or personal style. But what about the other ways we can level ourselves up? For example, getting a tattoo, a hair transplant, Botox or even fillers. These are often stigmatised as being fake, inauthentic or suppressing the person we are. If a treatment is semi-permanent or perpetual, most view it as defacing an appearance that is expected to remain constant and untouched.
However, just like our fashion-sense, our style (in its entirety) can (and should) evolve. These treatments can still be a part of one's authentic journey to self-discovery. An opportunity to utilise surfacing technologies to discover the person they will feel more comfortable living with.
It's important to note that any decision to change, develop or enhance oneself should be made for the right reasons. It’s not about critiquing every single flaw with a tiny microscope. Instead, it’s acknowledging what could be done to improve a way of life that has fallen flat because of certain discrepancies, or because inside feelings don’t match outside appearances, and vice versa.
When making any form of change to an appearance or lifestyle, opinions, remarks and judgments from others with always show their unwanted face. Typically, it comes from a place of care or uncertainty. To be honest, it’s not your issue to swallow and hold. Generally speaking people just don’t like change to happen that they can’t control. Black is black and white is white, otherwise it puts them out-of-sync. (Empathy to understand other people’s emotions is a powerful tool to possess!) The external opinions of others should not discourage someone from making positive changes in their life.
Ultimately, the decision to seek personal growth through treatment should come from within and it should align with one's values and passions. It shouldn’t be performed in order to change one’s values and passions. You’ll later learn that nothing has changed, you’re still you. For example, if someone is sensitive, they won’t become emotionless. Likewise, if someone is completely obsessed with badminton, they won’t drop the sport.
Remember, personal growth is a continuous journey and it's okay to change, develop, and enhance over time through new methods. As we age and gain new experiences, our perspectives may shift and it's completely natural to want to reflect those changes in our everyday existence… Again… always undergo for the correct reasons, under correct circumstances, with certified experts and professionals.
Despite popular belief, it’s recognised that changing, developing and enhancing oneself is not a sign of being untrue or disliking oneself. It's a natural part of personal growth and doesn’t affect someone’s truth. Whether it's through physical enhancements or other forms of self-improvement, the decision should come from a secure place from within. The fundamental to life’s happiness is to always remain authentic while continuing to evolve as a better person.