José Ortega y Gasset’s words remind us that we’re not just our circumstances—we’re what we do with them. By assessing your environment, building self-awareness, expanding your worldview, and taking small, intentional steps, you can reshape your life. Look at Oprah, Elon, J.K., and LeBron—they didn’t let their circumstances define them. They changed their surroundings and, in turn, changed themselves.