Think of the last time you had a big achievement. Maybe you accomplished a long-sought goal, created something meaningful, or conquered a personal challenge. Now, take a moment and reflect on how you arrived at that success. Was it a solo journey? Or did you have a network of people guiding and supporting you?

From the moment we enter the world, our journey of success begins. We learn to trust our caregivers to nurture us—we trust them to hold us (not drop us), feed us, clothe us, and keep us warm and clean. This early bond is foundational, teaching us the value of trust. As we grow, our circle of influence expands, introducing us to friends, mentors, teachers, and even strangers whose interactions shape our lives. Each experience—positive or negative—contributes to our personal wisdom and emotional development.

Erik Erikson, the renowned developmental psychologist, articulated this journey through his theory of psychosocial development, which outlines eight stages spanning our entire lifespan........

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