[Anacardo]

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1) do you think that being highly intelligent, attentive, and aware makes it tough for a guy to not be insecure? And by highly I mean more than 99.9% of the population, such that one would have a ridiculously large sensitivity and objectivity with respect to the flaws in everything, particularly one's own self

2) do you believe that people have an innate core whose tendencies and personality particularities are fixed, or do you think that one's "personality" and tendencies (for introversion or extroversion for example) can be transformed through social conditioning or self-help and self-work, or whatever means available

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1) Um, do we have any reason to believe that I'm qualified to answer this question? I'm not Emily Dickinson for Christ's sake. Anyway, this is one of many subjects that's almost impossible to analyze objectively, apart from one's own perspective. My [censored] LF Slim is of the definite opinion that confidence and perceptiveness are largely opposed characteristics. I'm generally inclined to agree, but perhaps they could be combined in recognizable form.

2) I do think that to a great extent people are, largely, who they are, and do not change. I do not think temperament/personality and character necessarily overlap. One can only be oneself, but there are better and worse versions available.