I’ve said
many times - that I don’t think people change. Some good friends disagree with
me. So, I’ve tried to think about it some more.
When I say
that people don’t change, I guess I’m really talking and thinking about their
inner essence, their soul, their spirit so-to-speak. It is clear that our
bodies evolve over time. Muscles, brain cells, joints etc. all age …but does
that change who we are? Maybe we can’t do the same things, but we are likely the
same person inside. If we were competitive, we likely still are; our inner competitiveness
just manifests itself in different ways.
If we change
jobs and learn to use new and different software techniques, adopt different ways
of doing things or handling issues or dealing with people…have we changed? I think our perspective and some aspects of
behaviour might have changed…but we are not fundamentally different people. We
have the same brain and senses and belief about human beings that we always
did: we just apply them differently.
If I stop
smoking, certainly my habits and behaviour have changed, but I have not. I may
still crave the idea and I still love the same things and the same people. If a
person quits drinking, what is it that changes? It’s his or her behaviour. The
weakness or character trait that lead to (or enabled) the smoking and/or drinking
is still there; its how we deal with them that has changed.
Which brings
me a related thought; I often say that “You don’t have to ask people what they
like to do you just have to watch them!” They will consistently do what they
want to do, and that I think reflects a great deal about who they are.
Sometimes, we are annoyed or displeased with what others do. Does that mean we
don’t like who they are? And in such cases, do we think we can get the other
person to change that behaviour? And if they actually do restrain themselves or
adopt a different behaviour in a given situation, have they really changed?
Likely not, I posit. They may change behaviour but their essence has not
changed. And as a note, we cannot – in my view – change someone else’s
behaviour or attitudes…people will only change when – and if – they decide to.
It is always their choice.
So, I think
that people’s behaviours can change, but that doesn’t change the essence of the
person. Changes in behaviour they do make are because they (decide to) make
them. Our inner self, personality orientations and belief system about other
people and relationships just keeps on keeping on. We cannot change others. Once a cynic, always
a cynic; once a conspiracist, always a conspiracist; once open or loving or
trusting or accepting of others, always open or loving or
trusting or accepting of others. And, that’s the last word (for now at
least)! So...Keep On Eh.
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