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: Before someone can make lasting change to a specific behavior or trait, they need to want to make those changes. You can certainly offer encouragement and support or set an example of positive change, but you can’t control anyone else’s actions. Ultimatums sometimes inspire behavioral change because they illustrate what’s at stake: “Either you stop drinking or I leave this relationship.” An ultimatum may not work, however, when the other person views it as an attempt to exert control. What’s more, they probably won’t commit to a lasting effort unless they truly care about the consequences. Change takes time and effort
If you’ve ever resolved to change something about yourself, you likely understand this decision is only the beginning. After setting a goal, such as “Stop showing up late,” you probably explored reasons behind your frequent lateness: trouble getting up in the morning
frequently misplacing keys
a tendency to lose track of time
Once you had a clearer idea of what you could do differently, you probably tried to put your plan into action. Maybe you tried setting your morning alarm 15 minutes earlier or attached a key hook to the back of your front door.