How our childhood environment influences adulthood

It is a given that the love—or lack thereof—children receive deeply impacts their development. But to what extent does our adult life take form from this love and encouragement, or lack thereof, from our parents?

Let’s take the case of Carlos Yulo, an Olympic gold medalist. His success, while often attributed to his perseverance and maybe even the encouragement of a significant other, might also stem from a need to prove something. Perhaps, for Yulo, it was the need to prove his mother wrong that thrust him into greatness. Regardless of their relationship right now, his mother’s influence remains present, even if not acknowledged by him, intertwined with the very core of his identity. No partner, regardless of the partner’s role, can ever rival this attachment.

Of course, on the other pole is Vice President Sara Duterte, raised with an overabundance of love—probably too much. Her upbringing, filled with unconditional indulgence from her father, has shaped her outlook in life: she thinks the world owes her, big time. Growing up as a member of a political dynasty, she has probably heard only that which she wanted to hear—a bubble of entitlement. This fact came into sharp focus during recent hearings before the Senate and the House of Representatives when it was obvious that she did not like being questioned or held accountable. VP Sara is the ultimate “nepo baby” stereotype, living in an echo chamber of praise that will perpetuate never truly reflecting upon herself.

Sometimes in life, we don’t get to choose the hand we’re dealt. Although the love that we get from our parents matters as it directly influences how we see the world later in life, there comes a time when we must stop blaming life. We owe it to ourselves to rise above that, to choose our path. And whether we will be a gold medalist or a meme, it’s a matter of choice, not fate.