Grappling with Change

"But I'm a million different people from one day to the next"

Hello again dear readers. As always I hope you are all doing well.

Here’s a thought experiment: think about meeting people throughout your day, week, month… life. Everyone you encounter has made some sort of judgement about what type of person you are. If a person meets you many times some aspects of your personality will start to be reinforced, while other impressions will fade. Even lifetime friends will change their opinions about you, as they themselves will also change over time.

And you may intentionally or unintentionally change some aspect of yourself daily, weekly…

So who are you? And who will you become?

We don’t often think of ourselves with much fluidity. Sometimes we like to sit in the same place when visiting our favorite cafe, eating the same meal. Other times we will go for it and try something new.

I asked Google’s Bard, an artificial intelligence, what to make of this very human predicament, and here’s the answer:

My question: Is it better to see oneself as having a singular character? Or is it better to see oneself as a multitude of characteristics?

Whether it is better to see oneself as having a singular character or as a multitude of characteristics is a matter of personal preference and individual psychology. There are pros and cons to both perspectives.

Seeing oneself as having a singular character can provide a sense of stability and identity. It can help us to feel like we know who we are and what we stand for. This can be helpful in making decisions and navigating life's challenges. However, it can also lead to rigidity and inflexibility. If we see ourselves as having a fixed character, we may be less willing to change or grow.

Seeing oneself as a multitude of characteristics can be more complex and nuanced, but it can also be more accurate. We all have a variety of different characteristics, both positive and negative. Some of these characteristics may be more dominant than others, but they all play a role in shaping who we are. This perspective can help us to be more accepting of ourselves, even our flaws. It can also help us to be more adaptable and open to change.

Ultimately, the best way to see oneself is the way that feels most authentic and comfortable. There is no right or wrong answer. If you find that seeing yourself as having a singular character is helpful, then that is great. If you find that seeing yourself as a multitude of characteristics is more accurate, then that is also great. The important thing is to find a perspective that allows you to feel comfortable in your own skin.

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Don't Hesitate

by Mary Oliver 

If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty
of lives and whole towns destroyed or about
to be. We are not wise, and not very often
kind. And much can never be redeemed.
Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this
is its way of fighting back, that sometimes
something happens better than all the riches
or power in the world. It could be anything,
but very likely you notice it in the instant
when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case.
Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid
of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.

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“Your capacity for gratitude is inversely proportional to your sense of entitlement.” – Mark Brooks

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“The way to be safe is to never be secure.” – Ben Franklin

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“Write your obituary, then work backwards to live it.” – Buffett

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"Often, our most intense discomfort is what precedes and necessitates thinking in a way we have never conceived of before. That new awareness creates possibilities that would never exist had we not been forced to learn something new."
— Brianna Wiest, 101 Essays that Will Change the Way You Think

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Later,

Neill

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