Other People's Influence on Your Personality

Other People's Influence on Your Personality Do you ever wonder why you act and think the way you do? We are all born with a unique temperament, genetic make-up, and neurological wiring. External factors, such as culture and socioeconomic status, also have a significant impact on us. People we've interacted with throughout our lives are another factor that has shaped us. With this in mind, you can make a more conscious decision about which influences you want to carry forward with you in life by reflecting on those who have influenced the person you've become. Relationships influence how you relate to yourself, others, and the world. Childhood experiences in your nuclear and extended families are frequently formative. And more recent encounters with them are frequently influential. Peers, other adults, and even strangers can all have a long-lasting impact. The influence in any relationship can be positive, negative, or a combination of the two. Get out some paper and a pencil to complete the following exercise to help you reflect on your relationships: • Identify different types of people in your life. For example, you could choose categories like immediate family, extended family, mentors, adult friends, childhood peers (e.g., friends or bullies), lovers, fictional figures (from books or movies), historical figures, religious figures, or even acquaintances or strangers. • Identify people who fall into each of the categories and have had a significant impact on you. Don't be concerned about whether they have "enough" influence. Consider this more of a brainstorming exercise. Include them if they come to mind as someone who has influenced you. (You can always get rid of them later.) • Think about each person's influence in greater depth. You could try answering the following questions: What characteristics or actions did they take that were most influential? How have they influenced me in the past? What impact do they have on me right now? What impact have they had on the course of my life? Consider how they affect your actions, feelings, and thoughts. You can gain perspective by reflecting. Rather than accepting your current perception of yourself mindlessly – in part, unconsciously living out the influence of others – you have the ability to choose who you want to be. You might even choose a new role model who exemplifies characteristics you want to emulate. Then you can commit to cultivating those qualities. Thanks for watching ❤ See U