Yourself

[Chlorine]

You are your own person. You have an identity. You know basically what you are all about. People have ideas of you, they differ from person to person, but generally people agree on certain common traits about you, certain features of your personality, all that makes up who you are.

Given that you can’t change your physical appearance unless by some drastic form of plastic surgery, can you change your persona? Be the person that you’ve always wanted to be. Or more so, become a totally different person! People change over the years but how much really changes. Can you change to the point of being totally unrecognizable to someone who hasn’t seen you for years? Does this same thread run through you even as the circumstances around you change and your experiences change. Or will you always be the same person. Is there a constant and is it definite?

[Junket]

How am I not myself?

[devilsrage]

i dunno the onway are gonna know yourself if you take time to understand yourself first

[Illusional]

personally i think that people can be molded into another personality. looks will always remain the same unless some doodoo happens in your life or unless you've got a shit load of money.

i had these really two good friends back in high school that i used to spend most of my time with. they were great until i introduced them they got into a relationship. i sitll talk to them to this day but it's very rare. however, the girl's personality has changed greatly. before she was already quiet and friendly, but after getting with my friend she become a real critisizing and degrading person. i hate spending time with her now... haha she probably thinks the same of me. however she changed into this person i feel, because of her bf.

i think that all our different experiences make us into who we are. look at micheal jackson.

raverboy

[BlackRose]

This makes me think of a song.

"I'm a new man
I wear a new cologne and
You wouldn't know me if your eyes were closed
I know what you'll say
'This won't last longer than the rest of the day'
But you're wrong this time..."

That's about all I have to say on this topic. That says it all. lol

[Chlorine]

FRasbee and everyone---"How am I not myself?"

That's what bothers me. First impressions, or impressions, perceptions people have of you, it doesn't seem possible to change it. Or yourself for that matter. It's so final, no second chances.

[blue]

i belive that the core of you will always be the same, can you choose to lead your life differnetly yes. there is always a choice.

[tooxshort]

i belive that the core of you will always be the same, can you choose to lead your life differnetly yes. there is always a choice.

wow! thats so great ... that's usually what I tell people all the time ... usually something like "they may have changed to you, but the core of a person still exists."

good shit, blue ...

[Junket]

FRasbee and everyone---"How am I not myself?"

That's what bothers me. First impressions, or impressions, perceptions people have of you, it doesn't seem possible to change it. Or yourself for that matter. It's so final, no second chances.

You have some points there but what I mean by "How am I not myself?" I mean that is it possible really to not be yourself? You're always who you are even when you act like somebody else. Coming to terms with that fact is a different matter.

And in reference to your comment on how "final" it is.

Does it really matter? If it's final for you, then it's final for everybody. "If nothing is okay, then it's okay."

It all come down to our perceptions.

These are just mine.

[bohemiandonut]

Can you change to the point of being totally unrecognizable to someone who hasn’t seen you for years? Does this same thread run through you even as the circumstances around you change and your experiences change. Or will you always be the same person. Is there a constant and is it definite?

I wrote something about this... I will go find it ::hurries off::

Okay, this is dated 4/23/03... let's see if I've changed:

"Do people change? Of course. But the more things change the more they stay the same, and I know why! Because: as things change, unless they are abrupt, you condition yourself to these changes. But when you think about it, you can see the changes clearly. However, with further analysis, you can see even more clearly that the essence of whatever has been doing the changing is still the same, it's only back, in brighter colors."

I was at the time contemplating an old girlfriend who had popped back into my life. I think my thought process was that maybe people change in the same way that plants do. The appearance of a full-grown tree is different than that of a sapling, but there had to be the *potential* all along for the sapling to become the tree. Sure the appearance of the tree has been influenced by external factors, but you cannot deny that even as a sapling, that plant had the *potential* to become influenced in such a way.

Hence, there is an essence of possibities. You can choose to see someone for their circumstance, or for the entirety of their life's possibilities; the ways it could go... This brings up the whole determinism vs. free will argument I know, but first I'd like to know if that made any sense to anyone.

I do notice that I can still relate to myself of 2 years ago, and much has changed... or has it? Perhaps things just happen, and *I* respond to them.

Peace

[Chlorine]

Frasbee----"You're always who you are even when you act like somebody else. Coming to terms with that fact is a different matter."

I can accept who I am; acknowledge faults and all (most of the time). Thing is, we do change, we change alot, maybe even down to our core. Yet, those who have known us previously may write us off before we even get a chance to show that we have changed. I was thinking out loud. What if I did everything in opposite to how I would normally act/react. For example, if someone yells at me, my first response would be to yell back. Let's say I took an opposite approach, and I choose not to yell back, over time would that make me calmer person? A different persona?

Donut------"....maybe people change in the same way that plants do. The appearance of a full-grown tree is different than that of a sapling, but there had to be the *potential* all along for the sapling to become the tree."

So.....the same genes/thread run through? Than if you're talking about a Pine tree which became tall and thin from a small sapling....you'de say "that's an older tree but it's still a Pine". However, if the leaves changed drastically, you'de look at it and say "hey, the Pine has become an Oak".

If our perceptions, experiences, and circumstances are changing all the time, how much change is necessary before people recognise I am now an Oak Tree.

*sniffle*

[Junket]

I can accept who I am; acknowledge faults and all (most of the time). Thing is, we do change, we change alot, maybe even down to our core.

You seem to be comparing your past self with your present self.

The way I see it, you're only ever who you are now.