What I've noticed over the years is that having awareness or an insight into a personality quirk or character defect or whatever you call it, doesn't automatica

What I've noticed over the years is that having awareness or an insight into a personality quirk or character defect or whatever you call it, doesn't automatically change it or fix it. And I've often made the mistake of thinking, 'if I could just figure out why I do x I'll be able to stop doing it'. And thats just not how it happens. After I've spent some time pyscho-analysising myself and figuring that "oh I do that because I feel y and I feel y because of this thing that happened when 9"...usually what happens is that the behvaiour doesn't change...but when I do the thing, I start feeling emo about the thing that happened when I was 9. And think this is because I sometimes end up pyscho-analysising the wrong types of things. I think what I'm saying is, trawling through childhood memories, past a certain point, is a fools errand. But this isn't always the case. When it comes to my marriage for example, self knowledge that comes from 'putting myself on the couch' can actually make big differences to the relationship - especially when we talk it out. So I don't know. I'm sure self knowledge is critically important to success in life, but there is a limit to how much pyscho-analysis one should do. I still haven't figured out when and when not to do it. Anyone else relate?