Believe, Then Become

A balanced approach to serving others potential

“Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German writer and polymath

I’m convinced our lives gain strength the moment we realize someone is rooting for us. There’s something profoundly human about it—knowing we’re supported compels us to stay the course and see our journey through.

Yet Goethe’s quote speaks to a truth that goes beyond simple support. He was answering a question many of us rarely ask ourselves: How do I serve someone—a friend, colleague, or acquaintance—who is living beneath their potential?

According to Goethe, how we see and treat people can either hold them back where they are or help them grow into who they’re meant to be. It’s about investing in the version of them that God sees, not just responding to their current behavior.

At the same time, some embrace Maya Angelou’s wisdom: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them.” Oprah Winfrey added the critical caveat: “—the first time.”

Here’s what I’m saying: treat people with belief in their better self, while acknowledging the truth of their current state. This idea is especially clear in what I call believer-and-becomer dynamics:

• A parent who believes in what their child—youth or adult—can become.

• A teacher who believes in their student’s academic and social potential.

• A mentor who believes in a mentee’s capacity to create change.

We each have to be intentional about cultivating belief in the lives of those we influence daily, no matter the relational dynamic. I’m learning more than ever how necessary this is—the fight to ensure that hope and belief never dies.

This column was inspired by a recent reflection on the people in my life who’ve believed in me. That type of manifested love feels like a battery in my back, pushing me to keep moving forward. I suspect this sentiment is universal: having someone believe in us fuels growth, resilience, and courage in ways we can hardly measure.

Words of Wisdom by Char of the Week: Don’t give-up on yourself – or on the people God has assigned to your life. I encourage you to believe for more, even in less favorable circumstances. Today's problems could be the very thing that awakens tomorrow’s promise.

*originally featured in September 24, 2025 edition of The Facts Newspaper, "WOWbyChar Column"

The Facts Newspaper (1961-present) is one of the first and largest Black news publications based in the Pacific Northwest. The six-decade publication circulates over 100,000 newspaper a week, excluding digital engagement. To learn more, visit thefactsnewspaper.com