Fate or Choice?

ByMatthew

Are our lives the result of fate or do we choose our lives?

Are we consigned to what our circumstances (/our pasts) allow for in the unfolding of our lives, or can we create our lives, can we be willful?

I just watched an interesting video from Marshall Goldsmith that offers a (hybrid) answer: Yes.

I found Marshall’s point (that both play a role) interesting and useful.

What’s most exciting to me is that this hybrid answer offers us a wonderful opportunity to 1) consciously create our lives (and understand the power we have to make our futures) and 2) to understand the role that our environment plays in our lives (and that we can make a numbers of choices in regards to our environments to shape them).

Either/Or thinking is seldom useful or correct (and sometimes dangerous).

When we understand the power we have, and the power of the things around us, we can make wise choices about what to do and what we (tolerate and) embrace around us.

What are you choosing? Does it serve you?

What’s around you? Does it serve you?

Similar Posts

  • Who Laws Are For

    ByMatthew

    Laws control the lesser man . . . . Right conduct controls the greater one. – Mark Twain Someone with a strong character needs no external guide or precepts to determine behavior. Where do you look for guidance? Do you consult “laws” to see what’s acceptable? Or do you consult your ethics to see what’s…

  • The Choice We Have

    ByMatthew

    “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King *  *  * “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” – Mahatma Gandhi *  *  * “Forgiveness is the final form of love.” – Reinhold Niebuhr…

  • Be A Creator

    ByMatthew

    It’s 8:45 PM and I need a blog post for tomorrow. I could just blow it off, but I made a commitment to post every weekday. Sometimes I don’t have the motivation/inspiration/will-power to write a substantial, original, blog post (most times, really). Tonight is not only one of those times, but I don’t even have the wherewithal…

  • The Dynamic Nature of Trust

    ByMatthew

    Trust is not static. It’s either growing or dying. It’s true for our relationship with our Self or others. I had a realization (it’s what prompted this post… ) that it’s not enough to be kind to those we know and “neutral” to others. Because rationing our kindness – even if its not conscious – creates doubt…

  • Why Goals Matter

    ByMatthew

    People with goals succeed because they know where they’re going. – Earl Nightingale Doing what I do and having read what I’ve read, I’ve noticed that there’s a great deal of debate on how to do goals properly. But what I’ve found is that the great “difference” isn’t between the different ways to set and achieve…