It’s not true that reality shapes us: what really shapes us is the lens through which our brain perceives reality. So, if you could change the lens through which you see reality, you could change what shapes you, what defines you, and above all—what makes you happy.
Only ten percent of the external world directly affects your level of happiness. Ninety percent of your happiness depends on how you see the world.
If you change your formula for happiness and success, you can then change the way you affect reality. Swap the formula and you’ll see that the power is reversed—from reality affecting you to you affecting reality.
(This idea originates from positive psychologist Shawn Achor. His TED talk, The Happy Secret to Better Work, is definitely worth listening to.)
Listen to the talk, and use Shawn’s idea to build an alternative lens to view reality. It has real potential to change you and the reality that you see.