Take Responsibility.

I'm firmly under the belief that the majority of our personality is formed during our childhood based on our personal experiences. This can be anything from relationships, activities, toys, cartoons, etc. The point is, I believe that what makes us who we are is absorbed at a very young age. When we're born, our mind is essentially a 'tabula rasa' or blank slate, and that as we mature, this slate starts filling up with experiences which will later dictate your outlook into the world, as well as your views of yourself. However, obviously our minds are not completely blank when born, because we feel basic instincts from the minute we're born to the second we die.

Whether or not you agree that the mind is semi-blank at birth, most people can agree that the mind is a creation of combined forces. Whether these forces be God, your parents, television, nature, whatever, our minds are not the result of one thing, but many.

Instead of this being an awe-inspiring idea, it seems to have encouraged a displacement of responsibility. With post-modernism came with the idea that as humans, who we are is determined in our childhood, so any wrong action we do can be blamed on how we were raised. Now sure, that is partially true. If a child is raped at a young (or even not so young) age, they are much more likely to become a sexual offender themselves. So yes, some traits can be attributed to an outside party, but does that mean that those people don't have to take responsibility for their actions? Not at all.

While your parents may be the reason why you're so afraid of commitment, or why you're too shy, or too outgoing, but you ALWAYS have the option to change that. People are incredibly adaptive creatures, and while change can prove extremely difficult sometimes, it is always possible.

No matter what you're past is, you are the master of your own future. Everything that happens to you from every moment on is your responsibility. Don't spend your life trying to find something to blame all your problems on, and instead try and fix it.

A major part of our existence is taking pride and joy in that existence. What would life be like without the feeling of accomplishment? So instead of worrying about all the shit that's happened that you have no control over, focus on your future where you can do anything you dedicate yourself to.

In life, we're given a box of crayons. You may get the 8 pack, or the 16 pack, or the whole Goddamn 480 color box set, but all that really matters is what you do with the colors you're given. And don't be restricted, color right off the friggin page