Are You the Same Person You Used to Be?
Psychology refers to the human self in varied ways. Personality. Identity. Psyche or soul. Deep core.
Since we all age, does the passing of time affect who or what you are? Will you be the same self/person 5 years from now? 10 years? 20 years?
Depends.
Several days ago, I was in a "graduation." A patient, Anthony, finished our long-term therapy program. And all his family members gathered together for a joyous celebration.
One of Anthony's close cousins remarked publicly, "He changed. He is not the same person I know. Something happened to him."
Anthony's body still has some similarity and continuity with what it was before. But he developed a new, different set of beliefs, attitudes, and behavioral manifestations.
He was seen not to be the same self/person he used to be. For Anthony, therapy facilitated a life change.
When I took my old car before to the mechanic for repairs, he made some replacements. Some parts of my car were changed that made it look new and run better.
Whether via therapy, some other kind of healing experiences, or a negative traumatic event (e.g. stress, depression, abuse), you may not be the same person you used to be.
Either for good or bad. For better or worst.
It's a matter of what parts of the self are chosen to change. It's nature, degree, and dynamics. Depending on how much the parts, connections, and interactions produce the different changes.
You alone can make that choice. The self/person you want to be.
As Stephen Richards writes, "You are essentially who you create your self to be, and all that occurs in your life is a result of your own making."