Is this weird?

Question

I think that my behavior and personality is GREATLY influenced by those people who are around me. For instance, when a cowrker of mine joined I went from kind of quiet to uber-chatty and joker and outgoing, like she was, very quickly. I was drawn to her personality. Now she has gone, I do not act that way. Is this bad and is there omething wrong with me? Or is this normal and am I making a big deal out of nothing? The more I think about it, the more I realise that I have done this my whole life. Any ideas would be appreciated!!

Thanks for the answers I will just add this though: I wasn't doing it to gain attention or really anything negative like that. I just noticed that I seemed to act different around her!

Answer 1

your making a big deal out of nothing, this is normal, many people change how they act around new people, its a way of making friends.

Answer 2

I don't think it's very weird. There are just certain people that bring out different traits in you. It's the same case for everyone, and I'll give you an example in my own life. With my family, I can be open and say anything. With my coworkers, I stick to my work, and have relatively dry conversations. When I'm around a silly friend of mine, if I'm in the right setting, I'm silly too. There is nothing odd about that. Now, if the reason you are quiet at work now is related to you not feeling good about yourself around your coworkers, or you don't feel comfortable around them, you should look into self-esteem issues or what it is about your coworkers that makes you feel uncomfortable (and with that, look at yourself and ask, "why does this make me uncomfortable?"

Answer 3

No this is not bad--at all!! People have a lot to do with our personality...I actually learned this in Psychology class in college!! People tend to emulate the behavior of someone they admire...Say for example--if you like the way someone acts, and you aspire to act in such a way--you pick up that behavior, and it reshapes your personality...One thing you're not realizing is...You are an individual ever-changing...Your personality is NOT what you think it should be...You evolve, and the fact that you started acted a certain way around another individual, only shows that...that particular individual brought out that spunky side of you!! It's perfectly normal!! I wouldn't question it a bit!! No big deal!!

Answer 4

Yeah this has happened to me too. I had a friend was a b***h and a brat and I ended up acting like her. I also had a friend who wanted to be right all the time and was very much an egg head. I started acting somewhat like that too. A lot of people reflect the company they keep. That's why people say surround yourself with positive people cause they will rub off on you. I think it's pretty normal. After I stopped being friends with the first girl and the second girl grew up, I stopped acting like that. Also, when I was in school I had this teacher who thought everything was hopeless. She, also, had a slight attitude problem. I spent 4 years in her class cause I thought it would help me in college. My last 2 years of HS I had her class 2-3 in one day (Homeroom, Actually Class, Independent Study). All that exposure to her kinda made me like her. I noticed this about the other students too. A lot of us started thinking like her.

But like I said earlier you reflect the company you keep.

Answer 5

Well different people bring out different things in you. Maybe you really clicked with this other co-worker. I feel more comfortable around some people than I do around others and therefore are more open with them. Even If other people come around I am still more talkative and light hearted because the person I am with brings out that side of me.
Some people I am just generally pissed off at and they bring out the worst in me, I do admit though that I really should control my own emotions (I don't always) But I would say that you were pretty normal

Answer 6

I think that is a little natural. If you ever work in a large corporation or production facilities that have similar departments, you will see some seem dull and some seem happy depending on the workers. Then if someone upbeat is transferred to a dull department, you see it changed for a while, and when they leave it changes back. Not always, but I think it is common. I don't think you're weird.

Answer 7

It isn't uncommon for somone to take on the attributes of another's personality whom they are attracted to (not necessarily in a sexual way) Mirroring another's personality is a part of the affinity seeking strategies we use to get along with others. Also the emotional contagion theory states that we as humans are apt to reflect someone's emotions, i.e. a smile is contagious. As long as you are aware in your change in behavior and are not using it to be misleading, you really have nothing to worry about, it just means you are easy to get along with. Hope this helps!

Answer 8

I'm like you as well.
It's only a problem if you find that you are not being true to yourself in order to please these people.
A little bit of therapy might help to heal this issue for you.
Here's some questions to consider:

Are you behaving like these people to please them ?
Do you feel that if you behaved like YOU that they would reject you?
Can you enjoy their company and appreciate the way they are without having to BECOME like them to show them you respect them?
You might benefit from a good fitness plan and health plan:
Here are some good ideas:
1. Do something that gets your heart rate up a bit like, walking, running, biking, and swimming.
2. Eat Whole, Organic foods like: Broccoli, Cabbage, Organic Brown Rice, Beans, Spinach, Sweet Potato, Apples, and other fruits and vegetables in their Natural State.
3. Avoid eating corn, white bread, white rice, white potatoes, candy, sodas, chips, and anything else that you already know you shouldn’t be eating.
4. Drink clean water as your beverage of choice. Avoid Fruit drinks and fruit juices (unless YOU juice them yourself)
5. Stop smoking, drinking beer & wine, and drinking coffee.
6. Get 8 hours of sleep each night.
7. Hang out with people who want to be healthy.
8. Avoid anything with High Fructose Corn Syrup.
9. Look into taking a multi-vitamin.

Tone up the muscles:

1. Join a gym and get a trainer.
2. If you’re short on cash, start a light stretching & yoga regimen.
3. Do push-ups, and light dumbbell curls for the upper body.
4. As I said above, walk, run, swim, and or bike
5. Take an aerobics class, a yoga class, or some other fitness class.
6. Join the local YMCA.
7. Buy or borrow this book by Bill Pearl called GETTING STRONGER.
In the book, he describes everything you need for a great fitness plan.
8. Crunches & Curl ups for the abs.


Mental Health:

1. Get a friend to talk to each day about your feelings.
2. If you have some money or insurance, get a counselor to talk to.
3. Learn how to meditate.
4. Join a support group for the issue you’re dealing with.
5. Ask your Higher Self (or God) for guidance.
6. Start keeping a diary or journal about your feelings & thoughts.
7. Write a ‘gratitude’ list every night.
8. Do something that makes you happy each day like: listen to your favorite music, draw, paint, write, or anything creative.
9. Do something for someone else who needs help.
10. If the above suggestions don't improve your mental health, talk with your therapist about the possibility of taking some medication.
11. Check out the book FEELING GOOD by David Burns.

Take care of yourself

Yam King

Answer 9

you are interested by others characteristics so you mimic them to add to your own this isn't bad or weird its the way you relate interpret and understand plus it maybe a way of making them feel comfortable or vice versa so there can be acceptance with out clashing.. this only my opinion..I think its cool learning how others are by acting like them you get all views that way DONT change

Answer 10

honestly i have never thought about this before. but if i`d have to say i think you are normal. =D your co-worker was probably someone you really had things in common with and warmed up to easily. if you don`t really talk to anyone else at your office i could see how you would go back to your old ways. hope this helps some. =D