The Power of Agency and Change

One thing that really bothers me about human nature is that people are willing to let a characteristic they don't like be a defining part of them. Hollywood, books (from children to adults), and the media in general have been telling us these past years: "Accept yourself for who you are." This a partly ok statement. We should remember we are children of God and that we do have light and goodness in us. We also have to remember that we also have great potential, and if we are just ok with staying the way we are, we aren't progressing.

Lately, I've been a very messy person. But I don't want that to define me. Should I just say "Oh well, I'm a messy person. I can still be happy?" No! I need to improve! I am going to improve. I hope that as time passes, I can rid myself of all things I don't want to be. And I have quite the list.

It just makes me sad when someone accepts themselves to be a certain way when they don't want to be that way. I'm not saying that people need to put themselves down all the time. We need to find joy in who we are, and work to become who we want to be.

This has everything to do with agency. Most of our attributes come from the way we choose to be. We have power to change. We have the power to change our diets, habits, looks, music preferences, food preferences, sexual orientation, etc. I even argue that some disabilities can be overcome, as I have heard friends tell stories of how they overcame a disability.

One was my younger brother, who was diagnosed as being autistic at a young age. My mom didn't listen to this diagnosis, and she told my brother not to listen. They were able to overcome his learning problems within 2 years and now he is in hard classes like AP English, AP Calculus, AP Biology. He is teaching himself how to make 3D art as he desires to study Animation at BYU. He is a runner and a very social stud muffin. If my mom had just "accepted him" as what he supposedly was, he wouldn't be who he is today. I'm not trying to put down anyone with serious disabilities, I'm just trying to show the power of agency and the power of change. Of course there are disabilities that are a permanent part of a person.

So world (I include myself), don't buy into the "accept yourself for who you are" philosophy. If you have weaknesses, work to rid them from your life. That's what I strongly desire to do.

Teresa=messy right now, but I don't want to accept that. I will work until Teresa=clean.

And I will write in this blog at least once a week. Even if it's a short philosophical thought.