What occurs as the ideal self becomes closer to the real self?

The ideal self represents the person you aspire to be, embodying your highest goals, values, and desires. As the ideal self aligns more closely with the real self—the person you are in reality—individuals often experience a significant shift in their emotional well-being. When the real self moves closer to the ideal self, it typically leads to increased happiness and satisfaction, as individuals feel more fulfilled and authentic in their lives.

This alignment often boosts self-esteem, as achieving aspirations contributes to a sense of competence and worth. When people recognize that they are making progress towards their ideal self, they experience greater self-acceptance and a more positive self-image. Romanticizing our ideal selves can also lead to enhanced motivation and a sense of purpose.

However, if individuals find themselves emotionally distressed or feeling inadequate when comparing their real self to their ideal self, this may drive feelings of unhappiness and dissatisfaction. But the notion here is that as one works towards harmonizing these elements, the emotional experience is generally uplifting rather than disheartening, indicating that closeness to the ideal self typically breeds positive outcomes in terms of satisfaction and happiness.

In psychological terms, this is rooted in theories of self-concept and well-being, where congruence between the self-image