Regression to the mean?

I've been wondering if this statistical concept, that over time things go back to their own state of normalcy, applies to people's attitudes of their lives. My first inclination is to think that it does. After all, people get a few "wake up calls" in life, but that does not motivate them to change or get a more positive perspective on things. Shortly after a death in the family or learning of someone's tragedy we may value more important things more greatly. But over time, we go back to griping about things that don't really matter, rather than living each day as if it's our last.

I've been through some tough times, yet I was so stressed and upset when my apartment flooded last week. And even though I can be thankful that the place was put back together before I got back from a trip, I'm irritated at the musty smell of it and how I wish the incidence hadn't happened at all in the first place. That line of thinking is easy for me, yet I have to remind myself that the most important thing is that I have a roof over my head and that the situation was rectified before I got back from my trip.

Another example: it was easy for me to get irritated with my mother for the way she put some things away, yet I had to remind myself that she was just trying to help, and that I should be thankful for most importantly, being able to see my mother and sister over the weekend.

I realize that this is a bleak way of looking at how we think and our attitudes. I don't think it's the end-all though. People do change, and I wouldn't be in the counseling field if I didn't believe people can change.

Maybe we do regress to the mean in a matter of speaking, but that "mean" in fact changes over time, and can sometimes be a very very long time?

How do you believe people change?