In today’s world, aesthetics often get dismissed as superficial distractions. But the reality is, aesthetics play a fundamental role in the way we perceive and interact with our surroundings. It’s time to reframe the narrative: aesthetics matter profoundly. Look at the difference between a moth and a butterfly – they’re treated differently!.And aesthetics matter, not just in nature, but in everyday life.
So let’s break down how you can create your own aesthetic. Here’s the thing: an aesthetic shouldn’t be a prison. It can and should change with you! But not choosing an aesthetic does have a measurable effect on your life. As I’ve said before, people want to follow a cut and dry “It Girl” model because it’s comfortable and it’s popular for a reason. But you’re more than the “It Girl.” You’re the main character and molding a main character takes intentionality.
What’s an Aesthetic?
When I look up the definition of aesthetic, it is defined as “concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty,” or the noun is “a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement.”
So I want you to think of yourself as an artist with an artistic movement. You can also ask yourself: how do I want to design my life? How do I want to paint the reality of my life? Even if I’m not in my ideal aesthetic right now, how can I work towards that little by little?
We don’t need to constantly compare ourselves to the “clean girl aesthetic” influencers living in luxury high rises and shelling out thousands for every accessory and appliance. You can start building an aesthetic with the tools that are currently at your disposal. Remember that your aesthetic is designed for you. So what can you do to feel like your life is more pleasing to the eye, more comfortable for you, and more easily romanticized?
Daily Luxuries: Small Steps to a New Aesthetic
My aesthetic journey began with simple daily luxuries—small, intentional decisions that made me feel like I was living in alignment with the vision of my future self. Even within whatever financial constraints I’m facing, I can always find small ways to level up my aesthetic. First, you need to pinpoint how exactly you want to feel. For me, it was important to feel luxurious and affluent. I knew that these feelings would shift the way I was showing up in the world.
The underlying desire was to feel as comfortable and put together as possible. I wanted to feel like I’m doing the best job that I can with myself. And at first, I thought I needed to replicate how other people achieved that for themselves. But once I understood how highly individualized the process actually is, I could start making small changes to reach this higher version of myself.
For example, I decided to only purchase fine jewelry, even if it meant having fewer pieces. This minor decision made a substantial impact on how I felt daily. From there, I slowly revamped my wardrobe by eliminating old college T-shirts and opting for matching silk pajamas instead. These small changes actually transformed my self-concept.
Because I had changed the way I felt when I went to sleep, I was then ready to change the way I felt when I went out to run errands. Suddenly, I wasn’t wearing athleisure to the grocery store anymore, I was wearing kitten heels. And none of this was by accident! It was a gradual, intentional process to bring me home to myself.
The Connection Between Business Aesthetics and Personal Aesthetics
The skill set of implementing an aesthetic in my personal life translated well into business. We have a business aesthetic we can define in plain terms because we know how to make small, intentional decisions that move towards a clear vision. So no matter how many times we iterate, we’re not losing the aesthetic of the business, we’re building on it.
Now, business aesthetics can be easier for many because you can hire professionals to articulate your vision for you. We work through the fine details like color, design, creative direction, and more with business owners. So you can see your business’s aesthetic achieved across the board, from your photos to your website’s design, with a bit of professional support.
And that’s kind of the purpose of that rebrand process is helping you figure out and uncover: what is your business aesthetic? What do you value and prioritize in business? How can aesthetic to be represented through visuals? Then, you can take cold leads and guide them through the buying process in half the time because they have a deep understanding of your brand’s mission through your aesthetics.
So a good way to think about your business aesthetic is to ask yourself: what is my ultimate deep purpose with this business? Who is the ideal person who I’m trying to attract? What are my personal values I want to express with business?
As long as you have answers to those questions, you are beyond ready to rebrand. I did a whole private podcast that will actually prepare you for your rebrand, so go check that out!
How to Make Your Personal Aesthetic Multi-Dimensional
None of us are one dimensional creatures. And this is often the push back I hear about aesthetics. People are afraid they’ll feel pigeon-holed once they choose an aesthetic. We want to blend in our uniqueness and let our creativity run wild with our aesthetic, not use it as a chance to stay comfortable and conform. But how can we actually do this in practice?
Here’s an exercise for you:
Start by listing your daily routines and habits. From there, create two columns: one for things you appreciate about your current lifestyle and one for things you feel need changing. Take your time with this!
Identify why you hold on to certain habits. Asking yourself “why?” is a really powerful exercise. Once you’ve pinpointed these reasons, you can begin making intentional changes. For example, if you dislike wearing old college T-shirts but continue to do so because they’re comfortable, find an equally comfortable but more aesthetically pleasing alternative.
Recognize the different facets of your life and create aesthetic personas for each:
- Relational Persona: This reflects your personality with close friends, partners, and family.
- Career Persona: This persona comes into play in your professional interactions and work environment.
- Personal Identity Persona: This is the version of you when you’re alone or in an intimate setting.
Bring life to each category by naming them. This exercise is about more than aesthetics, it’s about solidifying your self-concept. And in the process of doing that, your aesthetics become sharper with each passing day.
I promise you, when you take your aesthetic seriously, your life will change. Sometimes when we’re not feeling well mentally, our environment, what we’re wearing and how we look can dramatically affect our well-being. So take these simple steps and just watch as your life changes.
