Look beyond the surface
"Sophia Loren, an Italian actress, knew beauty shines from within. 'I wonder, what if every eye could see that light?' Growing up, I prioritized intellect over appearance, guided by my mother's emphasis on the importance of academic achievement. Entering high school, however, I was shocked to discover the social currency of physical attractiveness. Friendships and relationships, I observed, were often influenced by these superficial criteria. This realization challenged my previously held beliefs.
Everyone desires to feel beautiful and be seen that way. However, being judged unfairly or negatively based solely on appearance can deeply affect a person's self-esteem. Bullying and insults driven by superficial standards can cause significant emotional harm. This is particularly evident in Korea, where many women face intense pressure to conform to strict beauty ideals. This beauty criteria are slim figure, small face, a v-shaped jaw, pale skin, straight eyebrows, flawless skin and larger eyes.
From this perspective, I understand why some choose to alter their appearance to improve their lives or increase their self-esteem. While some might dismiss this as vanity, I believe condemning such choices is unproductive. It's a complex issue, rooted in a society that often prioritizes external validation. While breast augmentation, abdominoplasty and blepharoplasty are among the most common cosmetic procedures, it's essential to recognize that the drive for these surgeries often stems from societal pressures that prioritize a narrow definition of beauty. Addressing these societal norms, rather than solely focusing on the surgeries themselves, is key to reducing the demand for cosmetic procedures.
I'm not saying cosmetic surgery is right or wrong. Instead, I want to point out a big mistake our society makes. We focus too much on how people look, which doesn't last, and not enough on what's inside, which does. Real beauty comes from things like kindness, creativity and appreciating the little things in life. When we judge people only by their looks, we miss their inner beauty, which shines brightly in everyone. This inner beauty can change the world for the better. If we keep valuing looks over everything else, we'll lose sight of what really matters, and that hurts everyone and makes it harder to create positive change.
Ultimately, as I said, seeing that light is a choice. It's a choice to look beyond the surface, to connect with humanity within ourselves and others.' While I'm uncertain if everyone will ever. If you truly possess this vision, I believe it's a worthy aspiration: a world where beauty is genuinely seen, rather than superficially observed, would be a world transformed. And I think a world where people did not feel that they had to change their appearance to be accepted, would be a world transformed as well.