Individual Interpretation of Choice

Adler was not fatalistic in discussing the possible impact on style of life of
these congenital and environmental forces; he held that it is neither heredity
nor environment which determines personality but rather the way that
individuals interpret heredity and environment. These two things furnish
only the building blocks out of which the individual fashions a work of art:
the style of life. People have (and make) choices, and this determines their
own development; some people, however, have been trained by life to make
better choices than others.
All individuals have the capacity to compensate for feelings of inferiority.
Many great athletes were frail children and worked hard to develop their
physical strength and skills. Some great painters overcame weak eyesight; great musicians have overcome poor hearing. Given proper encouragement,
people are capable of great accomplishments.