Journal 1/ Quote 1

1.  “Life isn’t about finding yourself.  Life is about creating yourself.”  — Unknown

~ Literal/ Symbolic Meaning: A majority of people have the philosophy that everyone is destined to become one way or another. Therefore, their mission in life is to find out who they are suppose to be. However, this motivational quote illustrates the fact that, trying to “find yourself” is not the right route to take. From the very first day we were born, we were given an amazing opportunity to make our life as meaningful as possible. The decisions and choices we make and the different paths we take are really what shapes who we become. Symbolically, I believe this quote advises individuals to take time and think about the the choices we make as we stand before crossroads in our lives. We can be who ever we want to be and the choices we make dictate who we become regardless of the different traits we inherited and the environment we grew up in. Not to say that nature and nurture doesn’t play a significant role in who we become; however those two things are uncontrollable. Instead of having our inherited traits and background become a burden over our shoulders, we should take what was given to us and use it towards our advantage. Children who are less fortunate should not let their situation bring them down. In fact, they should use it to motivate them to stay out of trouble and to study hard to make a better life for themselves and their family. They do not have to live in poverty forever. By making the right choices and staying determined, they can break their status quo and have a successful life.

~ Application to Life in General: “Creating yourself” is all about focusing on the future while learning from the past in order to make the right choices in the present. It is crucial to remember that life is full of mistakes and failures. But we can not let that bring us down. Converting failed attempts into valuable learning experiences ultimately help shape us into successful people. In addition, it is important to remember that the quote says “life is about creatingyourself.” The process; not the end result is essential to who we become. While taking our failures and turning them into learning experiences, we actuate ourselves to make changes and become an even better person. We become motivated and determined which are great characteristics to have. Success and happiness is without a doubt a very difficult thing to attain. But when you apply yourself 100% and stay committed, you will become a mentally strong, diligent and persistent person. Obstacles and failures are extremely discouraging however, the person you create for yourself is determined by how you handle the frustration. By getting off your knees and making a stand, you are strong, confident and successful. On the contrary, if you decide the pain is too much and give up; the person you’ve created for yourself is a weak and cowardly individual. Regardless of what happens, everyone is able to control the choices they make. And those choices determine who they become.

~Application to you Individual Life: Because I dedicate my life to golf, I believe this motivational quote is a great one to live by. Golf is a sport full of up and downs, pains and gains. There have been long periods of time where my game has struggled and it seems no matter what I do, i can’t seem to rise up above the rut. There were times when I just wanted to throw in the towel and walk away. But then I thought… “Is this really the person I want to become?” The greatest discovery I was able to make was the fact that life really is about creating myself. That drove me to keep pushing forward because I was not going to let failure define who I am. No matter what happens, I know that everyday provides a new window of opportunity where anything can happen. This quote helps to propel me forward because I know I am in control of my life and my career. What I want to achieve and who I want to be is all up to me.

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