On a similar but not quite the same note, I remember that making a change in how I view myself (thanks to therapy) making a big difference. Once I stopped seeing myself as a "broken, depressed person" and as someone who was "healing and capapble of great strength", I started to become that second type of person.

I think September Morn had this as a sig line or in a post once..you have to be able to see it to be it or something like that.

So I think that your post, w2f is correct. There are societal influences that affect how we view ourselves and others. It's a challenge to look beyond those to see the real person, whether it's to see ourself without society's lens or to see someone else clearly.

Thanks for posting that.

gg