In many ways, people aren’t what they believe themselves to be. Their actions don’t always align with how they see themselves. We tend to imagine an ideal version of ourselves, but our behavior more accurately reveals our true character.

You only know if someone truly has their act together by watching how they behave over time. What are they hiding from themselves? Even those with good intentions sometimes fall into self-deception.

To understand people, you must first know what commonly drives human irrationality. Equally important are incentives. You’ll never fully understand anyone, just as you’ll never fully understand yourself, but noticing these patterns brings you closer.