Doesn't the phrase go something like “
a leopard never changes its spots” ?
The idea being no matter how hard we try we can never change our innate nature.
I like to look at them; they're beautiful, stealthy, elusive, solitary, nocturnal and renowned for their adaptability.
I quite like that you're finding them inspiring at present. If it's something you could put into words, can you say which "spots" are changing for you or you feel you can change right now?
well, for me it is that leopards don’t change their spots that inspires me to change mine! (not that i’m actually spotted). i’m becoming positive first of all. that’s most important. because i’m kind of notorious amongst those who know me (in what is often referred to as “real life”) as being kind of extremely negative or pessimistic or glum, gloomy and unhappy etc. so i’ve been doing positive affirmations and i find that they are working in changing my attitude from the above to positivity, happiness etc. positive affirmations i believe, can rework the landscape of a mind - or might i say “spots”. but if spots can’t be changed, then perhaps i was actually born happy and now i’m getting back to it.
an argument for that i’m naturally happy is that my mother always used to say i was very cheerful through age 2 and then at that point i became unhappy. who knows what could have been the cause. if there was a cause it could have been abuse or neglect or lead paint. there are so many things that were poisonous that were being used at that point in history. i know that at age 7 or so i had a big piece of lead that i held and manipulated with my hands - not to mention those classic broken mercury thermometers! bleeping yikes (sorry Aurelia i just love the word bleeping).
additionally my psychiatrist prescribed trintellix which is probably helping too. i used this med for about 6 months in the past and it did have a small effect. but i really credit the positive affirmations mostly because i started with them mid summer and didn’t start with the med until mid october. you’ve heard me mention my positivity before i think and that was before i started with the trintellix.
as for changing, or returning to me if that is the case - but its a change just the same - i buried my real self long ago, i believe and now i’m finding that/those parts of me. bit by bit with my internal landscaping efforts, i’m finding me. its a work in progress!
what i’ve been thinking about a lot lately is how i’ve been feeling somewhat successful with positive affirmations and i want to recommend them to other people. i think its worth a try. i think that if a person looks at it as truly a reworking of the landscape of the mind, and stick with the process for at least a few months (or more), new pathways develop. you start to plant imprints of happiness. i don’t feel lobotomized or like a zombie and i don’t feel like i do not have free will anymore. it could just be my imagination, but if it is, who cares if it is producing positive results? there are so many unhappy people who see no way out but suicide and i’ve been in that same/similar boat. maybe giving positive affirmations a try could really help.