They say, "The more we change, the more we stay the same".
But, it isn't quite true. What usually changes is our perspective of things. And because we perceive them differently, we react to them differently. But the same drives are underneath.
Such as, you want to get to Albuquerque, and so you are travelling ever north. But then you learn that Albuquerque is in the south, and so, all in one day you change your direction in life.
We were never given a map, so ...
I have to say, normally what you say goes right over my head, but that's a really fucking good analogy, and it seems accurate to me based on my experience.