Be Yourself

"Al, all joking inside, you just need to be yourself."

- The Genie told Aladdin that if he do want to impress princess Jasmine, he just need to be himself

Be Yourself is a popular trope, especially in shows aimed at children. One character tries to persuade another character to change their image and not be a loser, geek, etc.

After the change goes amiss, "Flowers for Algernon" Syndrome almost always ensues, and An Aesop is delivered about how it is better to be true to one's own nature rather than putting on a facade to impress others.

Usually, that means being unfashionable, out of shape, overweight, uncool and a complete and utter failure as well as having poor social skills.

If this trope is played well, it can carry the message that you can be worthy of love and acceptance without sacrificing the things that make you who you are, and to value your unique traits rather than hide them to fit in.

But if done poorly or too often, the message can imply that any kind of personal growth is bad and you must never try a new look, pick up new interests, or make new friends.

Bonus points if a Subculture of the Week is featured to try to sway our hero to their side. If the trope succeeds, it may lead to said character declaring I Am What I Am.

In real life, this is one of the important tenets of Existentialism, one's purpose in life should not be judged / determined by society, but rather one should shape one's own purpose.

Here's why they need to be themselves: