Just about everybody wants a confident personal image, but have one or more fears or barriers to actually developing one.  It’s really important to consider these fears and barriers, and how holding onto them can really hold you back from making progress, not just on developing your personal image, but on achieving your long range goals.

The number one barrier is thinking you should be able to develop your own self-image.  It’s true, unless and until you get stuck.  Getting stuck is really no fun.  If you’re in you’re stranded somewhere in your car and need your battery jumped, you call for help, get your battery recharged, and off you go.  But as I just wrote about, there are so many considerations that go into your personal image, why try to go it alone when you can work with an expert?

The second issue is about being fearful about revealing weaknesses and possibly that those weaknesses will be taken advantage of.  Effective and holistic image consulting gets to the heart of who you are.  But the focus of that work is on identifying and highlighting your strengths and attributes, not your weaknesses!  You do have to be open to being coached and mentored, and to the positive outcomes that come from that kind of relationship.  When you stick with your fears, because it’s what you’re conditioned to do and because that’s what you have known to do, you fail to realize how to grow beyond your limitations.

The third main issue is about money.  And when it comes to money, it cuts evenly two ways.  First, you have to be able to afford the investment it takes to update your personal image.  It’s worth planning it out and budgeting for this sort of project so that you get the kind of result you want to have.  If you’ve put off your self-care for years, this kind of expenditure would not be ordinary, and it would feel unnatural to make a large investment in yourself.  You might think of it as being selfish, and that leads to the second element when it comes to money.  You have to see that you are worthy of investment.  Many people have seen the makeover shows on TV.  But what people don’t realize is that, you have to pay for that expertise, and you have to pay for the wardrobe, the hairstylist, and the makeup artist.  You have to maintain what you start.  It’s got to be affordable for you, but from the beginning, you have to realize that you are worth it.

If you have issues with these key fears and barriers, and you work with me as your personal image consultant, I can help you through these rough patches.  You’re not alone in experiencing these barriers, but getting help with your personal image doesn’t have to be so difficult.

Joseph Rosenfeld helps high-profile individuals revitalize, manage, and be secure in their personal visual brand. Visit JosephRosenfeld.com for details.