Predeterminded or not?...

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I’ve never been one to sit on my hands and wait for some cosmically predetermined life purpose

to inexplicably reveal itself via a series of dreams, visions or prophecies.

appear at my window with hand-written instructions from God. Although an angel would be

pretty cool.

Nor have I been the type to buy into the widely-held view of destiny and I’ve mostly considered (the concept of) fate to be the refuge of the unsure, the lazy, the fearful and the deluded. But that’s just my (not-very-popular) view. For many people, the traditional theory of destiny provides a level of comfort and if there’s one thing we fearful, lazy creatures like; it’s comfort.

In some ways, destiny is our (perceived) escape clause: life’s all predetermined anyway, so what’s the point of working hard, taking chances, getting uncomfortable and setting goals?

Destiny Schmestiny

People talk about destiny all the time. Especially when they’re talking about big-picture life stuff. Or when they’re rationalizing why something didn’t (or won’t) happen. “Don’t worry Darling; it’s not meant to be”. The term destiny has an almost romantic, magical, feel-good kind of vibe about it. “That was always going to be her destiny” (as the orchestra comes to life in the background).

It seems that no matter what she did (thoughts, behaviours, reactions, decisions, plans, goals) her life, or part thereof, was predetermined by destiny. It was always going to unfold in a certain way. Despite her; not because of her. Apparently some unseen, cosmic force was firmly behind the steering wheel of her life. She didn’t really have to touch the controls because her life path (destiny) was pre-ordained and non-negotiable.

Am I the only person who considers this thinking to be a load of self-limiting, mumbo-jumbo crap? Am I missing something obvious? Why on earth would anyone buy into this? Oh, that’s right; it requires less effort and courage than the alternative.

Beyond our Control

In my opinion, one of the most disparaging notions we embrace is the traditional concept of destiny. Why? Because it teaches us that our life, and what we might do, be, create and achieve in this life, is somehow beyond our control. Some people embrace this kind of thinking because it takes pressure off them to steer their ship, shape their own future, and be responsible for what they produce in their world.

To think that people actually believe this “preordained, inevitable and beyond human power” crap? Give me a bucket. I’ll create my own destiny, thanks.

xxx