Submitted By: Sakib Hossen
Profession/Background: Freelance Graphic Designer
Book Title: Personality Isn’t Permanent
Author: Benjamin Hardy
Before reading the Book:
There was a time not too long ago when I believed people didn’t really change. Sure, we could adjust some habits here and there, but deep down, I thought our personalities were set in stone—mine especially. I saw myself as someone who was naturally reserved, always second-guessing, often holding myself back even when I wanted to move forward.
Growing up, I wasn’t the most confident kid. I was creative, yes, but not bold. I often stayed in the background. I used to look at others and think, “They’re born with confidence,” as if it was a trait you either had or didn’t. Even when I started freelance graphic design, I’d avoid voice calls with clients whenever I could. The idea of putting myself out there made me uncomfortable. I figured that was just how I was wired.
Some part of me wanted to change, but I didn’t really believe it was possible. I blamed my “personality type” for everything—from missed opportunities to the fact that I wasn’t where I wanted to be in life. I kept saying, “Maybe this is just who I am.”
Discovering the Book That Changed Everything:
One evening, while browsing YouTube, I came across an interview where someone mentioned a book called “Personality Isn’t Permanent“. The title alone felt like a challenge to everything I believed. Out of curiosity, I looked it up and read a few pages online. Something about it struck a nerve—it wasn’t just motivational fluff; it sounded like a real argument against the idea that we’re stuck being who we’ve always been.
I ordered the book that night.
When it arrived, I didn’t dive in expecting to be changed. I just wanted some answers—or at least a new perspective. What I got, though, was a complete shift in how I saw myself and what I thought was possible.
After the Book:
Reading “Personality Isn’t Permanent” felt like someone finally explained the thing I couldn’t put into words for years. Benjamin Hardy breaks down the idea that we define ourselves too much by our past—our traumas, our failures, our labels—and that doing so limits who we’re able to become.
One section that really got to me was about how we tend to form an identity based on old versions of ourselves. But the truth is, the person we’re becoming can be completely different if we choose to shape that version with intention. That blew my mind.
Instead of asking, “Who am I?” I started asking, “Who do I want to be?”
The Transformation:
The biggest shift wasn’t overnight—but it was real. I started imagining what the “future me” looked like. Not just in vague terms like “more confident” or “more successful,” but specifically. I pictured myself confidently presenting designs to clients, leading creative discussions, even mentoring others someday. That vision gave me direction.
I began acting like that person, little by little. I started accepting video calls instead of avoiding them. I redesigned my website to reflect my future goals, not my current comfort zone. I even started journaling regularly—something I never thought I’d do. It helped me track the gap between where I was and where I wanted to be.
Over the next few months, I noticed real changes. I landed a few bigger clients. I negotiated better rates without feeling guilty. And the weirdest part? I started feeling proud of the person I was becoming—not because I had “changed” in the traditional sense, but because I had finally taken control of my identity.
My Favorite Line & How It Helps Me Every Day:
“You are not your past. You are your chosen future.”
This line is burned into my mind. I come back to it almost daily, especially when I catch myself falling into old thinking patterns. It’s a reminder that who I was doesn’t get to decide who I am now. I use it when I’m nervous before sending a proposal, or when I hesitate to reach out to someone new. It keeps me grounded in the belief that I have the right—and the power—to change.
To Anyone Considering This Book:
If you’ve ever felt stuck in your own skin—like you’re dragging around an old version of yourself you don’t relate to anymore—this book will wake you up. “Personality Isn’t Permanent” doesn’t just challenge the idea that “people don’t change”; it gives you the tools and mindset to become someone new on purpose.
Benjamin Hardy doesn’t promise instant transformation, but what he does offer is so much more powerful: a roadmap to becoming your ideal self. This isn’t about faking anything or pretending to be someone else. It’s about consciously growing into who you actually want to be, without being shackled by the past.