Dang, look at the context. I was simply repeating his self-assessment back at him, and trying to flip it with a positive message that one's circumstances of birth do not define one's potential - unless you let it (mental prison). I feel like you've taken the exact opposite reading from what was intended.

That said, when people don't understand what you're trying to say, the fault lies with you. I'll try to rethink how i can phrase this kind of thing. I was trying to challenge in a positive way but it obviously didn't come across like that.