Monday Musings: The Moving Goal Post

When I think about beauty standards, I can’t help but notice how they’re constantly evolving. No matter how hard we try to keep up, it feels like the finish line is always being moved further away. It’s a lot like wealth. Remember when “stealth wealth” and the “old money” aesthetic took over our social feeds? Suddenly, everyone was dressing in muted beiges, ditching flashy logos, and embracing a more subtle, “natural” look. But here’s the kicker: as soon as everyone started following that trend, the concept of old money became just another aesthetic, a vibe. It wasn’t about true markers of wealth anymore.

Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth (1948) from MoMa

Beauty is much the same. Take fillers, for instance. At one point, everyone was clamoring to get that perfectly plump pout and contoured cheekbones. Fillers were *the* thing to do, a signal that you had the means and access to the most cutting-edge beauty treatments. But now? People are paying to dissolve those same fillers in pursuit of a more natural look. Then there’s the rise of Ozempic, initially a diabetes medication, which became a quick-fix for weight loss, celebrated for helping people slim down rapidly. But the goalpost has already shifted again. Now, it's not just about being thin; it's about being fit, toned, and strong. You can be thin, but if you’re not hitting the gym and sporting sculpted muscles, you’re not quite there yet.

What’s fascinating—and exhausting—is that society is always upping the ante. It never lets us settle. No matter how much we invest in becoming the best version of ourselves by current standards, there’s always a newer, shinier version to aspire to. It’s the way late-stage capitalism thrives; we are supposed to feel perpetually lacking. If we aren’t missing something, we won’t spend money trying to fill the void.

And it’s not just about looking a certain way. It’s about feeling like you’re never enough. The industry feeds on that insecurity. Each time a beauty or wellness trend takes off, there’s an underlying message: You aren’t quite there yet, but you could be—if only you bought this new product, tried this new treatment, or adopted this new lifestyle.

Here’s my take: if the goal post is always going to keep moving, why not just opt out of the race? Decide for yourself what makes you feel beautiful, and stick with it. Sure, you can change your mind, I mean, that’s the fun part of personal growth and exploration. Just do it because it aligns with what you truly want, not because you feel pressured to keep up.

Be intentional. Instead of being swept away by the latest trend, take a moment to ask yourself, Is this something I actually want? Does it make you feel more like yourself, or are you doing it because everyone else is?

Trends will come and go, but your sense of self can—and should—stay steady. At the end of the day, the most powerful thing you can do is define beauty on your own terms. That’s where real confidence lies, and confidence? That keeps you true to north.