My philosophy is that at least 75% of the core circumstances and events in your life are predestined.
It’s a controversial viewpoint because it deflates the contention of unlimited, super-hero type free will and it presents an uncomfortable, even threatening dynamic to the self-help and inspirational speaking field.
Certainly, inspiration is like a welcome jolt of energy to help you approach life head-on, do your best, and make the most of your opportunities.
Yet, there’s nothing wrong with accepting that there is a lot in life that you can’t change.
The case for embracing the notion of predestination:
The philosophy of unchangeable destined events in everyone’s life–challenging and rewarding–is rooted in the concept that there is a vastly bigger purpose to life than personal accomplishment and financial success.
Of course, those things are vital to the progression of the human race and they’re important to me on a personal level too, but there is more to life from a spiritual perspective. In my opinion, the tough stuff in life is necessary because it forces spiritual growth, the ultimate purpose of life.
Considering the daunting reality of being regularly tested throughout your life, responding to being tested, attempting to (and not always succeeding) constructively face your unique crises in life, and otherwise being confronted with things in your life that you can’t control, exposes the New Age mantra “nothing limits you” for what it is–cheap and disingenuous.
In the real world, it’s failure, and gratitude for the lesson, that often opens the door to your optimum path. The world is replete with people who failed in one industry and went on to great success in another, or failed in one relationship and then had success later.
Finally accepting that there are supposed to be occasional insurmountable brick walls in life just may save your sanity when you go through one of life’s inescapable rough periods.
The case for rejecting the notion of predestination:
The inspirational speakers tell you that the most uncompromising prison in the world is a person’s limiting belief systems.
Surely, a pessimist who believes she isn’t worth anything and can’t do anything right won’t accomplish much. Also, I think we can all agree that you should never tell a child that he doesn’t deserve good things in life. Likewise, don’t discourage the impressionable, but don’t exploit their naiveté either, and tell them all they have to do to become wealthy is “get in touch with the abundance of the universe.”
Being mature and rational adults, let’s put aside the pandering and the crowd-pleasing platitudes. Authentic self-help methods and spirituality have nothing to do with escapism.
While occasional flights of fantasy (e.g., dream-castling) may go hand in hand with inspiration leading to great accomplishment, basing your life on pie in the sky fallacies is a recipe for disappointment.
“You can do anything–what you believe you can achieve” may be just the thing you need to hear to get through the day, but truth be told, it’s a lie.
The outright denial of predestination hints at a refusal to accept the hard, cold realities of life, even when they happen. Unfortunately, those who hold such a philosophy tend to suffer resentment, despair, depression, anger, and worse when times get tough. Rejecting the notion that immutable personal adversity exists and that there’s nothing you can do to change some things in life, such as how others treat you, sets you up for misery.
Nothing is limiting about embracing the philosophy of personal fate and unpreventable personal adversity. It shows humility and a realistic outlook on life.
Additionally, having your future predicted won’t cause you to surrender your personal power. The key conditions and happenings of your life can be mapped; they aren’t arbitrary.
Do what you must to ignite the inner flame of inspiration, such as listen to your favorite music, but just remember that failure and success are equally essential to edging you closer to the being you are destined to become.
“Failures, repeated failures, are finger posts on the road to achievement. One fails forward toward success.”
C.S. Lewis
“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
Winston S. Churchill
Copyright © 2015 Scott Petullo