Many forces have shaped who I have become and how I daily experience the world. Ever since I was born, I have been shaped and molded by countless influences. My experiences continue to shape me in a constantly changing way. I carry with me, impressions from encounters with countless people, situations, ideas and awareness.
It has not been a passive experience. I have not simply yielded to all the forces shaping me. I have my own perceptions that influenced how I receive all the shaping I have received. Moreover, I have control over my perceptions. I have been willing to be shaped or I resisted being shaped. I still remain a product of a shaping that has gone on for decades and continue today.
I have been able to choose whether to be shaped. But I have constantly been shaped by outside influences.