I think you nail the problem of self-improvement on the head. The biggest problem I see is exactly that: People don't like themselves, so they go about trying to improve themselves until they reach some ideal that is worthy of being likable. But that's like adding more limbs to a tree to make it more beautiful. It already is beautiful, and no amount of limbs will make it prettier.
Self Improvement
I think you nail the problem of self-improvement on the head. The biggest problem I see is exactly that: People don't like themselves, so they go about trying to improve themselves until they reach some ideal that is worthy of being likable. But that's like adding more limbs to a tree to make it more beautiful. It already is beautiful, and no amount of limbs will make it prettier.