Source Text

Author: [[Benjamin Hardy]] Full Title: Personality Isn’t Permanent Category: #books The most fundamental aspect of your humanity is your ability to make choices and stand by those choices, what Viktor Frankl called the last of human freedoms, “To choose one’s own way.” Choosing your own way has at least two key meanings: making decisions about what you want to happen and choosing how you respond to what does happen. Choosing one’s own way is what makes one human—and the more you own the power of your own decision-making, the more your life and outcomes will be within your control. The two most crucial factors influencing your ability to make choices are your social and cultural environments, as well as your emotional development as a person. The more emotionally evolved you become, the less defined you’ll be by your past and the less constrained you’ll be by your circumstances. Slytherin house, Dumbledore explained, “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” You become who you choose to be. Yet, fully choosing who you are and will become is rare. We’ve been brainwashed into believing we don’t have such a choice. Facing the responsibility and freedom of choosing your own way is, indeed, scary. Creativity is risky business. It requires vulnerability and courage—with a high probability of mistakes and failures along the way. There is no guaranteed outcome with creativity and courage. Moreover, creativity can be unpredictable and take you places you didn’t initially expect to When you decide who you’ll be and the life you’ll live, you can have anything you truly want. You can become an outlier. You can have experiences that not only shock other people but shock yourself. “Is this really happening to me?” will become your common experience. Yes, it is really happening to you. Amazing, right? You’re moving forward and acting with boldness and intention. You’re not limiting yourself based on what has been. You’re becoming increasingly confident in your ability to see something in your mind and then watch it unfold experientially. You’re seeing yourself become surrounded by others who live by creation and design, rather than default and passivity. In order to become a new person, you must have a new goal— a purpose worth pursuing. Your goal is the reason you develop new attributes and skills, and have curated transformational experiences. Without a meaningful goal, attempting change lacks meaning, requires unsustainable willpower, and ultimately leads to failure.

AI Summary

Personality Isn’t Permanent by Benjamin Hardy presents wisdom from the contemplative traditions.

This entry was generated from Readwise highlights.