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Is it possible to change who you are. I am not talking about habits, I am talking about your character. For example - If you are an irritable person, do you think is it possible to become un-irritable? Can you really change or can you just hide it?

Yes. It's called changing your personality. People do it all the time.

If your a bitter person, but you act happy and kind. Are you changed? Can you ever completely get rid of that bitterness? Changing you personality does not happen all the time.

Absolutely, but if and only if you're willing to change. This topic is less a question of whether you can, but whether or not anyone is willing. I'm proof of change - I'm not the guy I was a decade ago, and I only have willpower to thank for it. Now that's not to say that I don't still eat a bit too much fast food and drink a bit too much high-fructose, but at the risk of sounding cliché, there is literally nothing you can't do when you put your mind to it. If you're serious about changing who you are, it's done. Ask me about my driving. I bet you'll like it.

Complete and utter change? I'm not so sure. I agree with Blizz on the fact that it'll only happen if you want it to happen, but I'm not so sure on the idea that you can change your very core, your true self. You may change slightly, though, or in increments, depending on who's around you and where you are and what you do, but changing the very essence of who you are?

I don't buy it.

Might wrote:Complete and utter change? I'm not so sure. I agree with Blizz on the fact that it'll only happen if you want it to happen, but I'm not so sure on the idea that you can change your very core, your true self. You may change slightly, though, or in increments, depending on who's around you and where you are and what you do, but changing the very essence of who you are?

I don't buy it.

What do you mean by true self? Keep in mind that there is no scientific core of a human being's personality, so if you say shit like essence, then you need to define that.

I believe certain changes of habit and addiction can be changed via will, but deeper aspects such as character traits might need a direct external push, ie: an epiphany brought on by a chain of events.

Nothing is impossible in this regard, imo.

SlappyMcGee wrote: What do you mean by true self? Keep in mind that there is no scientific core of a human being's personality, so if you say shit like essence, then you need to define that.

I'm of the type that believes that Nature and Nurture are both right. I, for example, despite not having interacted with my father in 5~ years, have some of the same habits as he does. Hell, apparently, I even walk the same as him. I also think that since I grew up in a... Unique environment, I have become a unique person.

I say that I am this way because I honestly don't think on the same level as anyone around me. That's not to say on a higher level, but it's definitely different, sometimes higher, sometimes lower, usually different.




Now, what I mean when I say that is, your Nature cannot be completely changed, only shifted, somewhat. That is, you'll constantly be shaped by your experiences and your interactions with things, but you'll still be the irritable person you were two years ago, or three years ago, or however many years ago.

Might wrote:Now, what I mean when I say that is, your Nature cannot be completely changed, only shifted, somewhat. That is, you'll constantly be shaped by your experiences and your interactions with things, but you'll still be the irritable person you were two years ago, or three years ago, or however many years ago.

I dunno - I can chalk almost all of that up to laziness / Being scared / unwilling / etc. to do something. Think of the craziest person you know who *doesn't* have a neurological disorder. Can they change their personality? Shit yes they can. Will they? Probably not.