You are not defined by your “personality traits”

The biopsychosocial model is very helpful in understanding why we behave the way we do. But we put far too much emphasis on the bio.

I’m not a huge 12 step guy but there’s been a ton of valuable things I have taken from them. One of the benefits of multiple trips to rehab and court ordered 12 step meetings 😂.

Even though I’m an atheist, the Serenity Prayer always felt very applicable (once I took out the whole God part). “Take what you need and leave the rest” was helpful in this approach.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

It goes further but that’s where they end it at meetings and that’s where the value for me is anyways. In context of the biopsychosocial model, we can apply this principle to any of our health related pursuits.Yea you may be predisposed to struggling with emotional regulation or addictive qualities, but it’s also quite likely that any biological qualities were exacerbated by your childhood environment. So while some aspects of our “personalities” may feel hard wired, they are likely just fortifications built over time to protect us from the cruel realities of our environment.So recognize that there may be things you cannot change. But there are probably a whole lot more things you can. But if these parts of you have been around for a long time, they just might look like a biological fact. Only time spent understanding them better will give you the “wisdom to know the difference”.