>> For me, this triggered careful introspection about whether I really derived pleasure from the things I claimed to like, or whether those claims were really just signaling about the person I would like to be, rather than who I actually am.

This resonates with me. But I think sometimes these aspirational affectations, once identified, are better preserved. If there’s any chance that they may one day ring true, they can serve as a worthwhile reminder of what one is striving toward.