The selfish gene? or some shit

We're all always changing aren't we?
Be yourself, change yourself for the better, become your best self. But ffs don't try and be someone else

I should have been more specific, I think there's a bit of syntactical ambiguity. I was talking about Tolle's idea of the true self, rather than 'true self' as in self as something that actually exists. So it's a criticism of Tolle rather than self in a generic sense.

Out of interest, would finding nothingness involve apprehending choice?

I've been reading Being and Nothingness, shit's profound!

Heyy man, I belive being yourself is truely they way to becoming great.

Let me explain.
Once you practice enough, or maybe even after reading enough if you're luck, you'll see the psycholoigy behind the openers and routines etc. And see why they work. And then naturally and subconsciously you'll begin the create those emotions yourself. You"ll realise that the same exact things you were doing. Maybe in a slightly different way with more confidence will get you laid.

It's like a circle man.. You end up at the start.

You have it in you man, dont let anybody; not even yourself, tell you different.

i wonder if sum1 has been all over speed seduction

I think Jay makes a salient point, I think you can't help but change if you decide to develop yourself, through PU or otherwise.

At the same time though despite coming a good way down the path of self-development I can't help thinking that my core values, likes and dislikes have been effected. Like Jay said I have just started exhibiting more healthy behaviour or in essence I have/am learned/learning how to express myself in a way that people enjoy or can engage positively with (as Phil said).

Precisely.

The funny thing is, the more people truly see what works and does not work as they make the same sorts of journeys of change we've all been through (and are constantly going through) the more people change their core self. A manipulating dick can become an entirely different person from merely a moment of clarity, a very simple little thing can set in motion a line of thought that turns that person away from what can only be viewed as decidedly unhealthy behaviour towards something far more healthy.

Compared to the person I was, going out with a mask on hiding the self and using it incredibly effectively to get sex (and just sex) I am now far, far happier by comparison. While the results of wearing that mask give constantly ego boosting and validation it's not a substitute for centring yourself and simply being. Once you gain that center it's almost impossible for the world to bring you down. I'm not suggesting that I don't have ups and downs, what I mean is that the downs don't really feel like downs, they don't really have any consequential effect on the mind, they're merely breathers between the ups, a necessary in between as the highs wouldn't be highs without them.

Being healthy overall makes you naturally happier overall, unless a person has some serious psychological issues affecting things. Nobody here can say they really enjoy being a dick, not to anyone that doesn't deserve it for one reason or another. Negative behaviours affect the psyche negatively, positive behaviours affect it positively, it's kind of common sense when put that way yet few people really ever think about it.

I gotta be honest. I'm 37 and only ever had one genuine gf. When it comes to copping off I have about as much experience as a 12 year old :/

if being a product of ur environment includes ur internal genetic environment, then I agree that the personality is completely environment dependant. as it stands people are born who they are but experiences shape their reactions to things. we are the pilots of genetic vessels and our aim is to pass on our code. everything we do is a subtle attempt hit this goal. Also people dont mean what they say and dont know why they do things but everyone assumes everyone else is in full control of what they do. Life is chaotic and people are only transiently logical.

CHANGE

AJay