"If you're treated a certain way you become a certain kind of person. If certain things are described to you as being real they're real for you whether they're real or not"
About this Quote
The statement conveys the profound impact that lived experience and perception have on an individual's development and understanding of reality. When a person is consistently subjected to specific kinds of treatment, whether they are positive or negative, these repeated interactions shape their sense of identity, their self-worth, and their approach to the world. If someone is routinely marginalized, dismissed, or devalued, they may internalize those experiences, which can lead to a transformed view of themselves and the possibilities available to them. Similarly, positive reinforcement and respect can have an empowering effect, providing a foundation for confidence and self-assurance.
This process is not limited to direct experiences but extends to the narratives and beliefs one is exposed to. If certain ideas, values, or limitations are continually presented as facts, they become embedded in a person's worldview, regardless of their factual accuracy. For example, a child who is always told they are incapable of success may come to believe it, accepting that message as a fundamental truth about their character. Conversely, if someone is surrounded by affirmations of their potential, those affirmations become just as real and influential, shaping their aspirations and actions.
The assertion reveals that reality is not a fixed, objective set of circumstances for everyone; it is deeply subjective, filtered through the lens of personal and cultural conditioning. Our realities are, in a sense, authored by the interplay between how we are seen and treated by others and what we are taught to believe about ourselves and the world. As such, the quote highlights both a vulnerability and a power: the susceptibility of individuals to the environments that shape them, and the potential to reshape one's reality by challenging imposed limitations or by creating new affirmations. Ultimately, it prompts reflection on how society's messages and behaviors influence not only individuals’ lives, but also the nature of reality itself as lived and experienced.
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