I am like you 100% here. I will tell you having children changed my life. It definitely changed my perspective because no longer could I 100% be an individual. My choices now had impact on other people's lives who depended upon me. It certainly changed me a lot when I became a father.
Prior to that I was pretty much fearless. After I had a child I finally understood fear.
I shouldn't say I was fearless. I felt fear. Yet I was attracted to it. I liked the rush of adrenaline that came with fear. So rather than avoiding things I feared I would be attracted to them.
So it is very possible becoming a father saved my life. :)