one thing that's challenging when you're having deep conversations with people is that you can end up seeing potential in them that doesn't agree with how they self-identify.

suppose you're talking to an engineer and you realise that their personality type is a better fit for teaching.

and they're already in the middle of an engineering career, but you can't suddenly just tell people who they are...

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people will usually not significantly alter their self-image unless there is a traumatic event that wipes it out, such as what happened with me in 2020 and i had to start with a blank slate.

so even if you - the friend or adviser or caring parent - can see the outline of who a person could be, they'd probably reject it if you actually told them.

people will very quickly form self-images based on what their surroundings are telling them, and once formed, it will only change slowly with time.

there are fast ways of reshaping a self-image but they're cruel and unethical.