def __copy__(self):
        # First, let's create copies of the nested objects.
        some_list_of_objects = copy.copy(self.some_list_of_objects)
        some_circular_ref = copy.copy(self.some_circular_ref)

        # Then, let's clone the object itself, using the prepared clones of the nested objects.
        new = self.__class__(self.some_int, some_list_of_objects, some_circular_ref)
        
        new.__dict__.update(self.__dict__) # this looks wrong as it will override reference to copied list and object with references to original list and object
        # try adding this:
        assert self.some_list_of_objects is not new.some_list_of_objects, "It should reference different objects"
        assert self.some_circular_ref is not new.some_circular_ref, "It should reference different objects"

        return new