Well, in answer to the question, I certainly hope not. But I was recently intrigued by a story regarding people who had brain injuries and were profoundly changed.
In one case a young man was brutally beaten by muggers, which gave him a concussion – which increased his IQ to a level of being able to see mathematical formulas and patterns in surroundings. Then there was the individual who hit his head in a swimming pool, losing 35 percent of his hearing. He had never been drawn to music but spontaneously went to a keyboard and played a concerto for six hours.
There were others whose injuries changed their accent, could cite the day of the week for any date after August 17, 1979, or, while never been inclined to pursue art, began to obsessively sketch, creating paintings that sold for $10,000 each. Wow!
Similarly, I recall the 1991 movie “Regarding Henry.” This was a story about a high-powered attorney who was shot in the head, the resulting brain trauma completely changed his relationships. Prior to the trauma he was self-centered, discounting of his wife’s needs, and unfaithful. But following the changes, he became sensitive, considerate, and overall caring.
The exciting thing is that, unlike Henry, we don’t have to go through some kind of life-threatening tragedy to have healthier relationships. We can make the choice. Sure it may require some brutally honest self-examination – but what possibilities there are for recreating the kind of relationships that we have wanted – with our spouse, our kids, our parents, and so on. So, I urge you to consider the kind of relationships that you want – and make a brain, heart, and behavioral change that can make this a reality.