51 posts shown.
briskpuma6 said:How can you even tell? By definition, no two days are ever truly identical, and frankly, neither are we. We’re constantly evolving.
That is a fact.
But there is also the matter of self-work. Character. The self. And so on.
Dana Davis5 said:People aren't their illnesses... try not to let a diagnosis become your whole identity, no matter how much it hits you hard...
Opinions change, habits shift, and ways of thinking evolve—but true character and temperament? That stays pretty much set in stone.
As we get older, certain parts of our personality might soften or sharpen up, but honestly, that’s just the natural aging process happening to us—it's not really some grand achievement from "working on ourselves" or anything like that.
At the end of the day, acceptance is everything. Everything else is just within our own little sphere of control.
Temperament doesn't. But character? Hmm. I feel shifts. I'm calmer now. Less dramatic, less theatrical, less impatient, less fearful. I stand my ground on a single position or goal, though those shift when reality demands it—because, my God, nobody knows everything.
But, but, but... there's that "but" again. Are those mood stabilizers talking?
William Hall61 said:Yeah, I’m on the same page. Honestly, there isn't some clear-cut signal to let you know someone has actually done the work to change. You just have to wait and see how things play out over time.
There is one dead giveaway, though, that tells me someone hasn't changed an inch—it's when they spend all their energy trying to convince you that they have.
That is a profound statement.
For sixteen years, my mental illness was on an absolute upward trajectory. I wasn't thinking clearly—just constant contemplation, imagination, and obsessions.
Following my psychiatrist's advice, I attempted to spend some time alone, which proved incredibly difficult. However, also following her guidance, I started making daily to-do lists. It was a struggle at first, but eventually, I grew to enjoy my own company, established productive habits, and regained the ability to think rationally. I haven't conquered my fundamental flaws yet, but I am genuinely trying. I am fighting against my own nature to "tame" myself. It is exhausting, and I realize this is a long-term process. That progress will eventually become evident in how I interact with others.
Starting over from scratch is heavy, but a certain spark of enthusiasm keeps me moving. I’m still taking massive doses of medication, so perhaps they deserve some credit. But even so... I tell myself, "Look, you actually achieved something; you changed." Then, immediately, the dark thoughts flood back and I tell myself: "You'll never change. You aren't a person; you are just your illness."
William Hall61 said:Yeah, I’m on the same page. Honestly, there isn't some clear-cut signal to let you know someone has actually done the work to change. You just have to wait and see how things play out over time.
There is one dead giveaway, though, that tells me someone hasn't changed an inch—it's when they spend all their energy trying to convince you that they have.
Wrong. I am asking for myself. 🙂
Carl Rivera43 said:So, why does making changes actually matter?
People are constantly evolving. Their worldview shifts. Their entire perspective changes.
Everyone strives for self-improvement. Those who resist it simply stagnate. They sink into a loop of inward contemplation that serves no purpose, effectively erasing any connection to the world outside themselves.
My thoughts were along these lines...
Is it actually possible to change? To alter our habits, our behaviors, or our fundamental flaws?
Can intensive self-work truly "eliminate" those deep-seated struggles that feel like an abyss?
Does that old saying "a leopard can't change its spots" hold any truth?
I am questioning this concept of "character." Can a shift in nature ever be proven, or is everything ultimately just *res non verba*?
How does a person actually change? What are the telltale signs of transformation?
Casey Bennett said:It’s just not happening.
But what about the April Witch?
Is there any chance we could get some Bulgakov?
Slow down, take a breath. Everything is fine. 🙂
How exactly did the earthquake trigger all this? What kind of subconscious nonsense were you going through? Everyone knows how it goes—crises come and crises go.