According to humanistic psychology, human beings have the potential to shape and change their lives. People are self-determining creatures capable of making decisions about what their existence will be like and who they will become. We interpret this specifically human feature as an empowerment to design one's life and also to influence constructive changes in the world. Such a view of the human nature can facilitate teachers' efforts in shaping children's abilities to cope with difficulties and foster positive beliefs regarding self-esteem, self-efficacy and control over not only mathematical problems. We analyse personal foregrounds keeping in mind that our backgrounds unquestionably affect our future. Moreover, we show that from the early years of schooling, mathematical education can provide students with opportunities to transgress their personal foregrounds. Finally, we postulate that mathematical education may serve as a means for changing one's life.