That being a very strong opinion on Mr. Wallis’ part…

I agree with your point about empathy, although I feel it is not something one can truly accomplish until one first learns to respect others, and that seems to be such a missing quality in the world today — but as I have blue eyes, you can discount my opinion 😊

There is a difference between the intent to do something, and actually accomplishing it. That’s almost trivially true. There is a difference also that exists between knowing what we are doing and actually doing it. Self-delusion of the type you speak of also runs rampant in those thinking they are changing themselves — not everyone, of course, as some people also have the strength to acknowledge their weaknesses… i.e., they are honest with themselves and others — another quality much lacking in the world today.

It seems that changing one’s perspective may be a very hard challenge — especially when one’s self-identity is all wrapped up in those things we think we know, that we know how to do, that we have the intention to do… our delusion is the story that has been written into our lives, and from that ground all the rest grows. Maybe the story needs to change first, starting with the main plot device — this idea we hold tightly to that we actually have a self-identity…

Thanks for the food for thought!