Personality changes..

[MehGuy]

I thought it would be interesting to make a thread about personality changes one has gone through. Are you different than 5 years ago? 10 years ago? Do these changes have an impact on your significant others or those you care more about?

As for me I seemed to change a lot from 2018. I do have my doubts about how genuine these changes are. Most of my changes have to do with a drop in my emotional empathy (likely similar to borderline personality disorder). Which ironically leaves me more cool headed and less angry and perhaps a nicer person. I do wonder what would happen if my depression vanished over night. There is a fear that I would revert back to the more emotional fragile person I was.

I am a person who generally is more tuned with the idea of nature over nurture, but it's obvious most humans go through a desensitization process in life that often mellows them out. What we call "maturity" is often just emotional desensitization.

 

[Halbhh]

Good insight there in the last paragraph especially. Indeed what too many call 'maturity' is something closer to becoming indifferent towards other people. There is a good thing that can happen: being less affected by other people's dramas or wrongs. And a not so good thing that can happen: to stop loving others or stop being open. One of the wonderful saving graces of following Christ fully enough is that one becomes flooded with love, and that's a very good thing.

 

[rockytopva]

I believe keeping a spiritual fire, light, and warmth in the heart are things most important. I also believe this fire and light are things that easily dissipate away. I have a wood stove in the garage that is attached to my house. Keeping the wood stove stoked keeps the whole house warm and in the seventies. My heat pump is set to turn on at 65 so I can feel the effects of the fire if it goes out. Especially as there is a chill in the house. There is also a spiritual fire that must be tended to daily or it also will go out!

If E = mc2 then we can divide and conclude that...

Mass (m) = Energy (E/c2)

And there are three varieties...

Natural E/c2 - All mass is basically cooled plasma
Mental E/c2 - Mentally, A mathematical formula, but this has chemical and spiritual properties as well.
Spiritual E/c2 - E (motivation, warmth, love) / c2 (faith, hope, charity, joy)

Unfortunately, though, the light and the darkness interact here on planet Earth. The opposite of E/c2 would be z (absolute zero)/ d (darkness)...

Natural z/d - Nothing, empty space.
Mental z/d - Again nothing but empty space.
Spiritual z/d - z (laziness, coldness, hatred) / d (fear, despair, greed, sorrow)

There is a spiritual darkness (z/d) that seems to work against us here in 2020. Even for people who have changed for the good over the decades....

“My hopes are not always realized, but I always hope!” - Ovid

And... Hope is tied into spirituality. Which, again, is harder to fire up as in past years.

 

[Halbhh]

I believe keeping a spiritual fire, light, and warmth in the heart are things most important. I also believe this fire and light are things that easily dissipate away. I have a wood stove in the garage that is attached to my house. Keeping the wood stove stoked keeps the whole house warm and in the seventies. My heat pump is set to turn on at 65 so I can feel the effects of the fire if it goes out. Especially as there is a chill in the house. There is also a spiritual fire that must be tended to daily or it also will go out!

If E = mc2 then we can divide and conclude that...

Mass (m) = Energy (E/c2)

And there are three varieties...

Natural E/c2 - All mass is basically cooled plasma
Mental E/c2 - Mentally, A mathematical formula, but this has chemical and spiritual properties as well.
Spiritual E/c2 - E (motivation, warmth, love) / c2 (faith, hope, charity, joy)

Unfortunately, though, the light and the darkness interact here on planet Earth. The opposite of E/c2 would be z (absolute zero)/ c (darkness)...

Natural z/d - Nothing, empty space.
Mental z/d - Again nothing but empty space.
Spiritual z/d - z (laziness, coldness, hatred) / d (fear, despair, greed, sorrow)

There is a spiritual darkness (z/d) that seems to work against us here in 2020. Even for people who have changed for the good over the decades....

“My hopes are not always realized, but I always hope!” - Ovid

And... Hope is tied into spirituality. Which, again, is harder to fire up as in past years.

Paul's exhortation came to mind:

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think on these things.

Songs of praise to the Lord can be one of the ways to do this! Here's a list of some I really liked lately, and though it stars with something really usual (a spirited live stadium concert in Brazil) it has a lot of wonderful choir singing in it also! : Let Incense Arise

 

[rockytopva]

Paul's exhortation came to mind:

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think on these things.

Songs of praise to the Lord can be one of the ways to do this! Here's a list of some I really liked lately, and though it stars with something really usual (a spirited live stadium concert in Brazil) it has a lot of wonderful choir singing in it also! : Let Incense Arise

10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.
11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled... - Isaiah 50

 

[mama2one]

was super quiet & shy even when got married
but parenthood has changed me somewhat

interacting with other parents & teachers as well as having a child who is much more social & outgoing than me has "forced" me to change in subtle ways

still an introvert but have found "my voice" when necessary
& will speak up

 

[bèlla]

Meh,

I've changed a lot! Five years ago I was more outgoing and still a social butterfly. My time alone is more meaningful now and home is very comfortable. I'm nesting.

But I'm rekindling the flame and experiencing a growing desire for company and fellowship. I love to entertain. I'm looking forward to being out about when social events return someday.

I'm a true ambivert. I can turn on either aspect when desired.

Yours in His Service,

~Bella

 

[Robban]

I just try and do better than yesterday.

 

[MehGuy]

Good insight there in the last paragraph especially. Indeed what too many call 'maturity' is something closer to becoming indifferent towards other people. There is a good thing that can happen: being less affected by other people's dramas or wrongs. And a not so good thing that can happen: to stop loving others or stop being open. One of the wonderful saving graces of following Christ fully enough is that one becomes flooded with love, and that's a very good thing.

A sobering thought. Considering the back drop of how immature and volatile our society is becoming, especially from the older population. At the end of the day seemingly "mature" people never really learned anything and given the circumstance can easily revert back to their younger selves.

Meh,

I've changed a lot! Five years ago I was more outgoing and still a social butterfly. My time alone is more meaningful now and home is very comfortable. I'm nesting.

But I'm rekindling the flame and experiencing a growing desire for company and fellowship. I love to entertain. I'm looking forward to being out about when social events return someday.

I'm a true ambivert. I can turn on either aspect when desired.

Yours in His Service,

~Bella

That is interesting. Thanks to my lowered emotional empathy some of my social anxiety has consequently faded away.