Things feel really clear, but then fog up again and I’m sucked into old patterns but I see through them. Is this typical, is progress still being made?

A: Yes, I’d say what you’re describing is very typical.

When someone first sees clearly how the false self is maintained, there can be moments of striking clarity. The habits of thought, reflexive defenses, and the identity maintenance that previously ran unnoticed becomes visible. The machinery is exposed, and for a while it can feel almost obvious. The…