[Confession] How my world changed after I stopped showing my face.

Hello, it's Milk💗

Thank you so much for always reading my note and for your likes and warm comments.

Today, I want to talk honestly and in depth about a certain change that those who have been following my social media and activities might have been curious about.

That is, about "stopping showing my face."

I used to show my face and post photos as a matter of course.
But at a certain point, I stopped showing my face clearly.

"Why did you suddenly stop showing your face?"
"Did something bad happen...?"

Some of you might have been worried about that.

This time, I will dig deep and share in plain words why I made that choice, and how my heart, my posts, and my relationship with all my fans have changed since I stopped showing my face!✨

It will be a bit of a long story, but I would be happy if you could read it at your leisure with a warm drink in your hand!✨

1. The invisible pressure from when I used to show my face

When I first started my activities, I was convinced that"If you're posting on social media, it's natural to show your face and promote yourself."I believed that.

It's easier for people to see if my face is in the photo, and it's easier to gain followers.
I believed that was the shortest path to increasing my numbers and engagement.

Of course, I was happy to have many people see my work, and being told "You're cute" or "I'm looking forward to your photos" was a great encouragement for my activities.

However, as I continued my activities, an "invisible pressure" gradually grew within me.

・ Feeling like I always have to be the "perfect version of myself"

On days when my makeup doesn't go well or my skin isn't in good condition, I feel reluctant to take photos.
If I look even slightly bad in a photo, I get depressed, thinking, "I can't post a photo like this..."

・ The frustration of "appearance" always taking precedence

I started to feel a sense of loneliness, as if the focus was always on "today's look" rather than the text I had worked so hard on or the thoughts I really wanted to convey.
I started to feel a sense of loneliness, as if the focus was always on "today's look" rather than the text I had worked so hard on or the thoughts I really wanted to convey.

・ The fear of the boundary between my private life and public life becoming blurred

I felt restless even when walking down the street, wondering if someone was watching me, and my heart couldn't keep up with the gap between the 'Milk' on the other side of the screen and my real-life self.

Even while facing the camera with a smile, there was always a part of me inside that felt like I was pushing myself too hard.

2. Stopping to realize, 'What I really wanted to share'

I took a short break from my activities and had a period to spend time with my family and deeply face myself.

During that quiet time, I asked my heart once again.

'Why did I start posting in the first place?'
'What was it that I really wanted to share with everyone?'

The answer was never 'to dress myself up and be pampered.'

What I wanted to share most were my casual daily realizations, my unadorned words, and a place where we could both feel at ease.
And it was to 'connect deeply at heart' with everyone who supports me.

'If that's the case, is there a need to keep forcing myself to show my face?'

When I thought that, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.

Of course, it's not that I had zero fear that 'if I stop showing my face, my fans might leave' or 'my numbers might drop.'

But I want to build long, warm relationships with people who like 'my inner self and my words themselves,' rather than a paper-mache version of me created by visuals.

With that resolve, I decided to let go of showing my face.

3. Four things that changed after I stopped showing my face

After actually stopping showing my face, my world changed in a direction that was much bigger and more comfortable than I had imagined.

1. I became able to pour all my energy into 'words' and 'atmosphere'

Since I no longer have to worry about how my face looks, I've been able to engage more deeply with the expression itself, such as 'what words should I use to convey this' or 'what kind of atmosphere should I share in my photos.'✨

A casual scene from daily life, my favorite knick-knacks, the delicious meal I ate that day...

Even with a single photo, it changed from 'a photo to make my face look better' to 'a photo to share the atmosphere of my daily life'✨

2. Sharing content has become genuinely fun

I've been freed from the unnecessary pressure of wondering, 'Does my face look okay today?', which has significantly lowered the barrier to sharing content.

Even in my pajamas without makeup, I can immediately put the warm feelings that come to mind into words right then and there.
Because I'm not forcing anything, I've become able to be completely natural every day.

3. I've been able to connect more deeply with core fans

By stopping showing my face, people who like my 'way of thinking,' 'worldview,' and 'choice of words' rather than my 'appearance' have gathered around me.

The feedback I receive in the comments and messages has also shifted; more than comments about my looks, I've seen an overwhelming increase in heart-touching messages like, 'Reading Milk's writing makes me feel at ease' and 'That way of thinking really saved me.'

Building deep, warm connections rather than shallow, broad ones is the greatest treasure for me.

4. I've become able to properly cherish my private self

I've been able to maintain a comfortable boundary between 'Milk' on the screen and 'me' in the real world, which has made me feel very stable mentally.

I feel like I've built a foundation where I can continue my activities for a long time at a sustainable pace while protecting my true self.

4. The future of 'Milk' and to everyone

Stopping showing my face was not a 'choice to give up on something' for me, but a 'positive choice to cherish myself and everyone else.'

Even if my face isn't visible, I can still deliver my thoughts and warmth clearly through the words I weave.
In fact, I think that precisely because my face isn't visible, you, the reader, can freely let your imagination expand and let my words accompany your daily life.

I will continue to deliver my unadorned, honest words here.

On happy days, down days, and days when everything goes wrong.
I would be happy if I could share my everyday life with you just as it is, without trying to look cool.✨

Thank you so much for reading until the end❣️

If you have any thoughts, such as 'I didn't know you felt that way about showing your face' or 'I love the vibe of the current Milk!', I would be happy if you could let me know in the comments section.

Your kind words are what give me strength every day✨

Well then, see you in the next article🎶💕

Milk