POWER

THE SELF

Personality is learned, it is molded as we start to interact with our meaningful environment. Every action we display in a given situation is directed towards a specific goal. These goals are associated with our expectations so that we may behave in a certain manner to coincide our predictions congruent of what we expected.

            As we continually live, normally we encounter a lot of life’s consequences that surely make our personality well-shaped. Molded by the goals and the demands of what every situation brings and by the set standards which might oust to determine our potentials. The claim to be distinguished among other and satisfy the expectations of the people is what drives me to strive. I am only acceptable when I do good things that benefit the pride of my guardians. Because I was the eldest of the family, my personality is shaped by their all-through-out the days naggings when I do not meet the criterions they have set. A set that they don’t want us to socialize with the children in our neighborhood, not to eat food appetizer like “bagoong”, and etc. My parents both work to provide the basic needs, and we just left behind with somebody employed to take care of us. I was a fearful child who always has to conform and comply with the values of the elder. Sometimes I tried to understand the urgency of the situations which my parents thought, but somehow I sees myself living with the “tyranny of should” if you try to imagine it’s like burning your own self just to provide other people some light. Fortunately I was raised by my parents this way, when I was a child before. Because now I can maneuver my own choices and decisions, luckily they respect my demands.

However in my current status today, I was now a teenager it is a new chapter in my life, and I observe that environmental factors has a great impact that could alter our personality. To socialize is to start coping and adjusting ourselves. We exist by CONTINUALLY conforming to the social and situational norms, to be ACCEPTED by the society. As what Grant Gilmore said “the better the society, the less law there will be, in heaven there will be no law, in hell there will be nothing but law, and due process will be meticulously observed”, and I conclude the society today is hell. The creation of our personality is situational. We don’t possess a whole personality that last a lifetime since our experiential world is doomed to changes. Indeed the only constant in this universe is change. The people that surround me really change my personality, because of the set standard they brings. With that I have to make a name with my own shadow, even though I am not as versatile as clay that can be exhibits any form which the sculptor wanted. Though I have to exist and take options with my own choices and be authentic, and to live free from remorse and condemnation.