How Embracing My Own Sense of Style Gave Me a Positive Self-Image
We grew up knowing that our society dictates us what to wear, how should we look, or what style to embrace. Our choices are usually dictated by what’s in style. If we don’t fit the mold, we usually feel outcast.
We’re crazy about what’s in style and we feel we don’t belong if we don’t follow the trend. Mind you it gives us a sense of belongingness if we look like everybody else.
Sometimes, even if we feel so weird about it, we still try to adapt to it. Why is that? We are indeed dictated by what fashion experts tell us what we should buy or wear. We shop according to what’s forecasted in major fashion magazines.
As lame as it may sound, we have become slaves of commercialism. Even if it doesn’t fit us so well or we feel so uncomfortable, we still opt to choose it. But if you’re choosing what everybody else prefers, then where can your personal style come into the picture?
Why do we have to play by someone else’s rules?
Don’t we owe it to ourselves to have our own fashion sense, our own personal brand? Why should we have our own style?
Looking back, I have experienced what every human being went through, to just look like everybody else. If you think about it, almost everyone wants to copy how their most favored celebs look. As I grew older, I, myself, have eventually got tired of it.
I just tried to wear what made me feel comfortable. I developed new ways of implementing my own personal style. I even changed the color palette of my clothing choices. I opted to go for the basics just like black, white, gray, and blue.
As I narrowed it down, I felt happier. I have relished the newfound freedom of my own personal choice. I appreciate comfortable, functional fashion now more than ever.
Why am I even talking about it when most of us are just at home and cannot even go out? It’s because dressing up even during lockdown can make us feel good. It gives us a sense of normalcy. Most of us, due to the new normal work at home now.
But still, even if we just have to attend Zoom meetings, we still dress up. That is because we want to look good and feel good even if we’re just in the comfort of our own homes.
But due to this desire to feel good, we dress up usually to impress someone. Even so, it’s a must that we should embrace our own personal style. If you do so, you will be in control.
Not only that you will save a lot but you will be happier with your newfound choices. If you do just that, you will dress up for yourself, rather than others.
Why is it important to choose your own style?
It’s important to choose your own style not only because it’s more functional, but it is also cost-effective. Imagine yourself having to buy any new releases of our favorite brands. At some point, it’s so fulfilling and as time goes by, it can get very tiring.
Not only that, but embracing your own personal style gives you a more positive self-image. Most of the time, we don’t appreciate what we see in the mirror. That is because we don’t embrace our own looks, and our own sense of style, and that destroys our confidence.
According to Cleveland Clinic, Self-image is the personal view, or mental picture, that we have of ourselves. Self-image is an “internal dictionary” that describes the characteristics of the self, including such things as intelligent, beautiful, ugly, talented, selfish, and kind.
These characteristics form a collective representation of our assets (strengths) and liabilities (weaknesses) as we see them. The image we see in the mirror may be a real or distorted view of who we really are.
Based on this view, we develop either a positive or negative self-image. The strengths and weaknesses we have adopted affect how we act today. We continually take in information and evaluate ourselves in several areas, such as physical appearance (How do I look?), performance (How am I doing?), and relationships (How important am I?).
Having said that, it’s vital to have a positive self-image as it can affect all aspects of our lives. One thing that can boost our self-image is to embrace our own sense of style. We can still be comfort-focused, yet still very fashionable.
Just like with shoes, before, I opted to choose only what’s popular in the market. I have even promised myself not to spend a dime on something that I feel is not worth it. If others are not in awe of it, I just don’t buy it, plain and simple, especially if it’s not endorsed by my favorite sportsmen.
How did I develop my personal style?
As an Occupational Therapist, I’ve seen the major problems of my patients. They have struggled with heel and ankle pain for years. I wanted to ease and eliminate their pain. As a shoe lover, I asked myself, how do I choose my shoes?
As I reflected I realized that my choices are based on what’s popular even if it has to sacrifice my own comfort. Then I started to think of how I could help my patients rehabilitate faster. That’s when I realized I had to come up with orthotic shoes that could somehow ease their burden.
That’s when I tried to rediscover things. I tried a lot of stuff that can be very comfortable, it’s so hard to find things like that especially since the shoe market is so polarized. I’ve tried to embrace what’s more comfortable and realize that I should share it with my patients.
Why, because it made me feel so good and so free. With that, it has given me a positive self-image. I’ve started to share it with my patients, I made them try to wear Friendly shoes and the testimonials are overwhelming.
They said that it has given them so much relief, the pain that they have to endure in the past is all gone now. Some even said that they were beyond amazed and grateful. The boost in comfort and the positive image has also increased the rate of their healing process.
Not only that I was able to make their lives more comfortable, but I was also able to make a difference in their lives, and that has given me a sense of fulfillment.
