Where does ambition come from?

Ambition is a feeling/emotion that is innate in all of us human beings; however, our environment can influence how ambition develops and what you focus your ambitions on.  Most of your ambition will develop in childhood from various experiences; although if you experience adverse experiences your levels of ambition can shift.  As an example, if you grew up in a household where grades and education were of high value then your ambition may be geared towards academics.  When you are surrounded by people that provide unconditional positive regard then the development of ambition is likely to excel in such an environment.  An environment in which you are encouraged to take risks and reach your goals will foster a healthy level of ambition; especially if you have a support network that is there for you should you struggle to meet your goals or have a negative outcome from taking a risk.

On the contrary, growing up in an environment that discourages taking risks or shames you for not achieving goals that are set can lead to negative outcomes of ambition.  That type of discouragement can cause your ambitions to be low or even misguided.  For instance, if you experience anxiety and fear due to that shame; then you may take drastic measures to avoid the shame.  Your ambition has not shifted to doing anything and everything to ensure you are not harmed from taking any risks or failing to achieve a certain goal.  You may disregard societal norms/rules to ensure you do not have to experience that sense of shame; you may put aside your own morals or values as your ambitions are now geared towards that avoidance. 

As previously mentioned, adverse life experiences may shift your ambitions.  Human beings learn from life experiences; it morphs the way we view the world around us.  Something traumatic may have happened to you that would alter where your ambition comes from.  For instance, perhaps the traumatic event includes losing your home and all the sense of safety you previously had.  In an effort to regain that sense of safety and stability; your ambition is now shifting and the actions you take are to regain and maintain this newfound ambition.  Ambition serves a great purpose in our functioning but understanding what influences our ambition is important to recognize.