The idea that we are determined by our “nurture” or our “nature” is one of the most perverse and destructive ideas in human history, and it is false. Of course our lives are influenced by the way we are raised and the genes our biological parents passed along to us—but that influence is not static and doesn’t have to be significant.
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” ~Viktor Frankl
Through the consistent exercise of conscious choice we build self-awareness. Negative influences lose their power when we are self-aware. Self-destructive behavior falls away when we are self-aware. Each conscious choice between stimulus and response increases our self-awareness and that is how we become free from negative influences.
“What happens in your life doesn’t just happen. Yes, the circumstances you were born into play a role in your life, as do your genetics. But the role they play is minor compared to what happens in your mind. Become aware of how your mind creates your life and you can overcome your genetics and your circumstances.” ~Bill Harris
- Stewart Hughes