The human body and even more, the human spirit can adapt to almost anything given the right conditions and enough time. This idea has been viewed before in a plethora of studies documenting people in control like situations, for example prisons. However you really doesnt resonate with you until either it happens to you or something strikes a chord with you. For me, ive been reading a book called a Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and accomplished psychologist.
His telling of his story doesnt want to completely focus on the conditions he suffered but rather about the psychological effects such situations have on people. Frankl talks about in detail about what goes through the human mind and furthermore how it breaks down in the early parts of the book. Its terrifying to listen to what he and others had to go through, but even more terrifying to think what people can become. Most notably given harsh enough conditions you can adapt to anything.
Frankl gives smaller examples like how many men who were unable to sleep with someone snoring or couldnt share a bed were now finding themselves falling asleep in seconds on a a piece of wood with 10 other men. However the most gripping examples are the ones of how your mind breaks down regarding empathy and sympathy. In times where you know it is either you or the other person you are willing to do anything to not be killed. As a physician within the camps, he talks about losing any sort of feeling for death and those who he helped that ultimately died.
I think Frankl's story holds a much deeper meaning and it goes far beyond one basic point but in one way it shows the ability to change. I think there are many people who desperately need to change and are finding it near impossible. Whether that be trivial things like going on a diet or studying for x amount of hours to more severe cases like coming off of drugs. We can change anything given enough push and the right conditions. No one regardless of age, sex, ect is unable to change themselves if they want to do so or if others want them to enough.
Perhaps its a bit of self control or just the lack of will for people to change certain things, but outside a bubble it can be hard. It is especially hard if you are the only one who is checking yourself to make sure you have accountability. However I truly believe that if there is anything you want, you can push yourself to change.
-Calaber24p