Title: Can People Change? A Look at What's Realistic
Headings: People Can Change, But That Doesn't Mean They Will
People Can Change, But That Doesn't Mean They Will
First, a few things to keep in mind
You can’t force change
Change takes time and effort
Change doesn’t always follow a linear path
What can change
What about people who cheat or lie?
What (usually) can’t change
Core personality traits
Emotions
Mental health conditions
How change happens
Motivation
Visualization
Positive feedback and support
Effort (not ability)
Therapy
The bottom line

Content: Change doesn’t always follow a linear path
Even someone with a sincere determination to change won’t always succeed the first time, or the second. It’s easy to slip back into old habits at first, sometimes without realizing it. It often helps to reconsider your strategy and explore other methods of managing triggers before trying again. That said, true commitment to change generally shows up in noticeable effort and progress. Say your partner teases you whenever you disagree. After some discussion, they admit they do this to lighten the mood because they dislike conflict. When they realize it hurts you, they agree to stop. They succeed for a few months but eventually fall back into the habit. When you call it out, they decide to go to therapy to address the underlying issues related to their fears around conflict. What can change
Various factors combine to make up personality, values and beliefs, and behavior.