Shadows of Influence

We all are influenced by something or someone, every now a then, at almost every corner of life. These influences mold our character and also shape our appearances. Influences play the main role in our presentation of ourselves to the world.

But to what limit can we let ourselves be influenced? I mean, we hear some intriguing story of someone’s success or the praises from the family for some distant cousin who has done very well for himself in life. Things like this influence us – knowingly or subconsciously – but they do. And when this happens, instead of getting inspired, we get envious of such people. Once the envy has taken birth, influences like these start to overshadow your personality. You start to think of yourself as useless and try to borrow their habits and steal their tastes and hobbies. You want to transform yourself into them. This is the point where their influence on you turns into your obsession of becoming them.

When someone influences you, take it for your good and try to use it to find the best aspects of your personality instead of trying to change yourself. Let that influence turn into an inspiration that propels you towards your dream rather than becoming an obsession that completely engulfs you until nothing is left of your existence because if this happens, you will find yourself facing a major identity crisis, when realization dawns upon you.