It is easy to take credit for our successes, and look down on others for their 'failings', without acknowledging the huge number of interrelated factors and events that first had to happen for them to come into being. We don’t choose our parents, our genetics, our personality traits, our talents, the time and place where we are born, or the experiences that shape us. If we really consider all of these things – and truly recognise how little say we have in the formative elements of our life – it is inevitably humbling.

And on the flipside, it can allow us to have more understanding and empathy for people who have lost their way. The famous psychologist Albert Ellis spoke about judging behaviour as good or bad – but not judging people, and that really points to this.

One person who powerfully illustrates this point is the Nike sponsored endurance athlete John McAvoy – who previously was sentenced to life in prison in his early twenties for armed robbery, before turning his life around.

Full Length Episode: https://www.simonmundie.com/blog/john-mcavoy-the-power-of-environment

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