Growing  and flourishing into fully-developed, well-rounded human beings means understanding the stories of our lives and being able to put them into proper context. I’m not just talking about whether we had good or bad childhoods, but deeper. Look at your beliefs. Are they truly yours? If not, where did they come from?

For those looking to gain a better understanding of themselves and transcend, it’s important to know your roots. And, while these stories identify you to yourself and the world, they do not determine who you will be in the future. Only you determine that. 

You are the writer of your story. You decide if it’s a tragedy, a victory, a comedy. Every obstacle you have faced until now has made you stronger, and hopefully, forced you upwards, in search of the light. And then, one day, you are no longer underground, with your face in the sun.