by Bruce Campbell

Created on: November 03, 2009   Last Updated: November 04, 2009

There has been quite a bit of research and volumes written on what goes into shaping and creating a human's psyche and personality and, essentially, determining who they are and what they are capable of being. Who care? Parents of young kids, mostly. They gobble the research up and read all of the volumes written because they don't want the guilt of turning little Johnny into a serial killer. They're going to need Johnny around when they're old and feeble.

Recently there was a print ad for an insurance company; under the picture of a kid covered in ink and toilet paper, the by-line leaped off the page: "90% of Who You Are is Determined by the Age of 5." Yikes! So, we've only got a 5 year window to get Johnny on the right track to success and happiness. 5 short years.

Without a doubt, the parents role in a child's formative years are incredibly important. In fact, it is the number one most important factor is determining how a person develops and what they become. However, there are endless examples of people who overcame suffering, struggle, poverty, loneliness, and broken homes and became big successes. This can only lead to the conclusion that the second biggest factor in determining what makes a person is their ability to adapt. If a person is somehow able to develop a way of seeing a bind they are in as a challenge to be overcome, then they are empowered. If they are able to adapt and roll with the struggle and the hard times, then this ability will determine who they are.

The human mind is a complicated wonder. However, in certain ways we are all wired very similarly. Most humans develop similar ways to justify their behavior, even when they know it is wrong. "Sure, I can cheat on my taxes, they government cheats me!" "I can blow off this stop sign, it's a stupid stop sign anyway and shouldn't even be there!" "Hey, I know I'm drinking a lot lately, but it's red wine, and they say red wine is actually good for you!" I'm sure one of these thoughts may sound familiar and crossed your mind at one time or another. Another factor that determines who you are is your ability to step back and examine your thoughts. Self-reflection. Are you justifying bad behavior? If so, what can be done to fix it, to go down another path to determine who you are?

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