When an atom acquires the nearest noble gas configuration then why doesn’t it change into an atom of the noble gas

Atoms tend to acquire the nearest noble gas configuration tin order to achieve stability .
​​​​​as the noble gases has balanced number of electrons.
That means the atom itself gain or lose some electrons in order to do so .That doesn't mean it will change its own nature and will convert in to another element .Such as noble gas of the same configuration