Von der Erfahrung zur Selbstermächtigung
Several years ago, I was the victim of a violent robbery in London.
The incident was serious. I sustained facial fractures and required surgery, with five titanium plates inserted. I was away from work for six weeks while I recovered physically.
The mental recovery, however, took far longer.
It was, in many ways, a defining moment.
What stayed with me most was not just the immediate impact, but how it subtly changed the way I moved through the world afterwards. Everyday situations felt different. Confidence, in its simplest form, had shifted.
The LBC article revisits the growing conversation around women’s safety and the steps many are now taking to feel more secure in their daily lives:
For me, it is a conversation that is deeply personal.
Rebuilding Confidence, One Step at a Time
Following that experience, I was introduced to Aran Dharmeratnam, who works in personal safety and self-defence.
What stood out immediately was his approach — it wasn’t about fear, and it wasn’t about extremes.
It was about awareness, presence, and practical, realistic strategies to navigate the world with greater confidence.
He would take me out into London, into everyday environments, and guide me through situations in real time. Not staged scenarios, but normal moments — sitting in a bar, walking through the city, going about daily life.
In those settings, he would highlight small but important details.
Where to place your belongings so they remain within your awareness.
How to stay present in your surroundings without feeling on edge.
Even simple habits, like being mindful of your drink and the environment around you.
One of the most impactful shifts was something incredibly simple — putting your phone away. Not walking through the city with it in your hand, but allowing your attention to be fully on your surroundings, rather than distracted.
They were subtle changes — but incredibly powerful ones.
Working with him helped me rebuild something that had quietly been affected — not in a dramatic way, but in a very real one.
A sense of ease.
A sense of control.
A sense of trust in my surroundings again.
Where Two Worlds Met
At the same time, I was continuing my work in aesthetics — helping patients build confidence in how they look and feel.
It became increasingly clear to me that these two worlds were not separate.
Confidence isn’t just external.
And it isn’t just internal.
It sits somewhere in between — shaped by how we feel in ourselves, and how we experience the world around us.
“Botox and Bodyguards”
That realisation led to something unexpected.
Together with Aran, we hosted a series of workshops at the clinic, which we called “Botox and Bodyguards.”
They were designed to bring these ideas together:
● Personal safety and awareness
● Confidence in everyday life
● And the role aesthetics can play in how we present ourselves to the world
The response was incredibly positive.
What started as a conversation quickly became something more meaningful.
The Evolution into The Empowerment Project
Over time, those workshops evolved into what is now The Empowerment Project. Not as a single event or offering, but as a wider philosophy — and a growing community.
What began as small, focused sessions brought together like-minded patients who shared a similar desire: to feel more confident, more aware, and more in control in their everyday lives.
That sense of connection became just as important as the content itself.
Because confidence is not built in isolation — it is strengthened through shared experiences, conversation, and support.
As it evolved, so too did its purpose.
The Empowerment Project expanded beyond personal safety into broader areas of self-development — including life coaching, mindset, and goal setting — all designed to support individuals in building confidence from within.
All ticketed events contribute to charitable causes, ensuring that the impact extends beyond those in the room.
At its core, the project is about creating space for people to reflect, grow, and reconnect with a stronger sense of self — in a way that feels supportive, practical and sustainable.
Because real confidence is not about how something looks.
It’s about how you think, how you respond, and how you move through the world.
A Different Kind of Perspective
The LBC feature reflects a shift that I have come to understand through experience, not theory.
After what happened, and the process of rebuilding my confidence, I became far more aware of how people carry themselves — not just physically, but mentally.
How they move through spaces.
How present they are.
How much of their confidence is internal, rather than visible.
It reinforced something I had perhaps underestimated before — that confidence is not created by doing more, or changing more.
It comes from feeling secure in yourself, and in your environment.
That perspective has stayed with me.
And it has, quietly, shaped the way I practise.
Moving Forward
Today, that understanding sits behind everything we do — even if it isn’t always visible.
It influences how we approach patients, how we structure treatments, and how we define a good outcome.
Not as something dramatic or transformative, but as something measured and considered.
Because confidence, when it is built properly, should feel steady.
It should allow you to move through the world with ease, without overthinking or second-guessing.
It should feel like your own — not something imposed or constructed.
And ultimately, that is what I aim to support, both inside and outside the clinic.
Where to Begin
Confidence doesn’t usually arrive all at once.
It builds gradually — through awareness, small shifts, and a better understanding of what helps you feel more at ease in yourself.
Where that begins will look different for everyone.
If you’d like a place to start, Dr. Preema KI offers a simple way to explore your thoughts and options in your own time. It has been designed to reflect my ethos and personal approach — so if you feel like you need a starting point, or simply a space to think things through, you can begin there.
Verfasst von Dr. Preema Vig
Medical Director, Dr Preema London Clinic
