That 'I Don't Feel Like My Old Self' Realization
There’s a specific, quiet disorientation that comes from looking at an old photograph of yourself. You see the haircut you swore by, the hopeful (or perhaps guarded) look in your eyes, and a wave of feeling washes over you: I don't know that person anymore. The disconnect is real and almost physical. What they wanted, what they feared, how they moved through the world—it feels like a story you read about someone else, not a life you actually lived.
Our resident mystic, Luna, sees this not as a loss, but as a sacred shedding of skin. She says, "Your soul is not a static monument carved in stone; it's a garden that changes with the seasons." That feeling of alienation from your past isn't a sign of being lost. It's evidence of your journey. You’ve weathered storms, enjoyed seasons of sun, and the landscape of your inner world has transformed entirely. The question of whether your `childhood mbti type` is the same as your current one is less about finding a fixed label and more about honoring the entire path you've walked.
Your 'Core' vs. 'Crust': What Actually Changes
This is where we bring in our analyst, Cory, to separate the signal from the noise. He encourages us to think of personality in two layers: the 'Core' and the 'Crust.' Your Core is your foundational wiring—think of it as the deep, underlying operating system. This is where concepts like cognitive functions from MBTI theory reside. Research, such as studies on the `five-factor model stability`, suggests these core traits are remarkably stable throughout our lives.
However, the 'Crust' is everything you build on top of that foundation. It’s your habits, your beliefs, your coping mechanisms, and your learned skills. This layer is highly malleable. As one extensive review on the topic from the National Institutes of Health points out, while rank-order stability is high, mean-level changes in personality occur across the entire lifespan. This is the essence of `personality development and change over lifespan`; your fundamental self doesn't get replaced, it matures.
So, when people ask, `do mbti types change`, the answer is nuanced. Your type preference (e.g., Introversion vs. Extraversion) is likely stable. But how you express that introversion at 16 versus 46 is profoundly different. This is the `maturation of cognitive functions` in action. You learn to use your non-preferred functions with more grace and skill. This isn't a change of type; it's an expansion of your capabilities.
Cory’s take is both clarifying and reassuring. It explains why a `personality change after trauma` can feel so fundamental. A traumatic event can shatter your 'Crust,' forcing you to rebuild your behaviors and worldview from the ground up, even while your 'Core' wiring remains the same. The process of `personality development and change over lifespan` is not about becoming someone new, but becoming a more fully realized version of who you've always been.
Here’s the permission slip Cory offers: *"You have permission to honor the person you were, without being bound to them forever. Growth is not a betrayal of your past self; it is its highest fulfillment."
How to Intentionally Grow Into Your Healthiest Self
Understanding the mechanics of change is one thing; actively steering it is another. This is where our strategist, Pavo, steps in. She views self-awareness not as a destination, but as actionable intelligence. `Conscious personal development` is about moving from passively experiencing your personality to actively shaping its expression. The science backs this up, with experts in publications like Psychology Today noting that intentional, goal-directed change is possible.
Here is Pavo's strategic plan for `how to develop your personality` with purpose:
Step 1: Identify the Growth Edge.
Look at your personality type's 'inferior' or less-developed functions. If you're a thinking-dominant type, your growth edge is likely in the realm of emotional expression and connection. If you're a feeling-dominant type, it might be in setting firm boundaries or making objective decisions. This isn't about fixing a flaw; it's about expanding your toolkit.
Step 2: Run 'Behavioral Experiments.'
Instead of a vague goal like "be more organized," create a tiny, concrete experiment. For example: "For the next week, I will spend five minutes every evening planning the next day's top priority." This leverages the concept of `neuroplasticity and personality`—your brain can and does form new pathways through consistent, repeated action.
Step 3: Script Your New Approach.
Pavo is a master of scripts. If your goal is to develop more extraverted feeling (Fe), don't just hope you'll remember to be more affirming. Practice a script. The next time a colleague shares good news, your pre-loaded script is: "That's fantastic news, I'm genuinely happy for you. How did you make it happen?" This moves the intention from your head into the real world. It's a key part of the `personality development and change over lifespan`.
Ultimately, the journey of `personality development and change over lifespan` is the most profound project you'll ever undertake. It’s not about erasing your past self but integrating all its lessons into a wiser, more capable, and more authentic version of you.
FAQ
1. Can a traumatic event truly change your personality type?
A traumatic event is unlikely to change your core personality type (e.g., your MBTI cognitive functions). However, it can dramatically alter your behaviors, beliefs, and coping mechanisms—what we call the 'Crust.' This is why a person may act very differently post-trauma, as it can accelerate personality development and change over lifespan by forcing a re-evaluation of how one interacts with the world.
2. Do MBTI types change as you get older?
Your fundamental MBTI type is generally considered stable. What changes significantly is the maturation of your cognitive functions. As you age, you develop your less-preferred functions, becoming a more balanced and well-rounded version of your type. So while your core wiring stays the same, its expression becomes much more sophisticated.
3. What is the difference between personality traits and personality type?
Personality types (like MBTI) describe the underlying cognitive wiring or structure of how you process information and make decisions. Personality traits (like the Big Five model—Openness, Conscientiousness, etc.) describe observable behavioral patterns. Your type influences your traits, but your traits can be developed and changed more easily through conscious effort.
4. How can I actively work on my personality development?
Active personality development involves identifying areas for growth (often your type's weaker functions), setting small, concrete behavioral goals, and consistently practicing new ways of thinking and acting. This process, known as conscious personal development, leverages neuroplasticity to build new habits and skills over time.
References
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov — Personality stability and change
psychologytoday.com — Can You Change Your Personality?