Both. We will spend our lifetimes learning, adapting and growing and finding ways to accept, come to terms with and hopefully love ourselves at each stage of it. It's going to be a different journey for everyone and there aren't any very clear instructions other than "just survive until it's your time."

Hopefully we can manage to get through it with a little grace, both from ourselves and others.

I read quotes sometimes, and while people might disagree, the idea of *There is no Self* seems more freeing to me. Some will say oh we are our ideas, our values. Well we can believe certain thoughts and even all have various behaviors. But are thoughts or beliefs or behavior , actually US? Actually WHO you are? I don't know. I remember an AMAZING author saying something really transcendent. "When you say *I* , welcome to hell". -Byron Katie.

Because she said we are all operating constantly under simply what we believe, and belief is not truth. And I liked when she said, "if I look at you, I'm looking in a mirror". That we are all One. I think trying to figure out who we are, is exhausting and causes such angst. I think I'm going to try letting go of who others or even myself think I am.

I've always said, It's hard to know what others are thinking, when I'm not even sure what I'm thinking.

But, you know it's a process that takes process - and also learning when to stick to your feelings over what others "expect"

I'm certain I know myself, but I do change and grow. Fundamentally I'm very simple and my reactions are based on my ethics, which don't often waiver. I keep becoming more alone but less lonely, closer to my core.

Are you taking into account that different people can interpret and react to the same moment differently? I think that's partially what creates indentity.

Also why don't you ever message me with this kind of thought provoking question 😒

You can know yourself,

You are made of several parts - your values, your tendencies, the way you respond under pressure. The rest is shaped by context, emotion, and the moment.


Personally I think I know myself better than anyone [since no one else really cared].

I'm not sure. I keep learning more about myself and have no idea where that ends, or whether I'm really discovering something I never knew about before or that it wasn't there before.

I feel like you need a few outside perspectives to get a better picture.

It's both. You're always a moving target. But as you get older it gets easier. Usually.

I'm just me. I don't know how else to be.

I know I don`t know me.

You truly get to know yourself In time of crisis im afraid

It's possible. Just not as easy to do when you're undergoing trauma.

I like to think I know who I am. I can even predict how I will react to stuff ahead of time.

Aren't those both the same? Unless your reactions are without patterns, chaotic, the sum of your reactions is who you are and who you are sets the patterns of your reactions.

I'm clearly just an android being preordained to do things

I identify as a sw troll