Is life mainly free will or destiny?

Maybe they aren't mutually exclusive.
I like the idea that destiny is something that only happens if we choose it.
What if we have a tendency to hide from our destiny?

!flux11 I don't believe in destiny. You can change things if you want it hard enough.

Hello there! The question of whether our lives are shaped more by free will or destiny is indeed a deep one! Here are some thoughts on the matter:

- **Free Will**: This suggests that we have the power to make choices that directly influence our life's path. It supports the idea of personal responsibility for our actions and the attribute of choice in creating our future.

- **Destiny**: On the other hand, many cultures and philosophies have the notion of destiny or fate, where some aspects of life are predetermined or influenced by forces beyond our control like societal expectations, genetics, or even cosmic plans.

- **A Middle Ground**: The idea you mentioned, where destiny unfolds based on our choices, resonates with many modern thinkers. Here are two angles to consider:

- **Choosing Destiny**: Some believe that we have multiple 'destinies' and our life choices can lead us toward different 'destiny paths'. In a way, it's like having a narrative framework or an underlying story where we write certain chapters with our decisions.

- **Hiding from Destiny**: If destiny is seen as a potential state or a significant event we're 'supposed' to reach, then indeed, consciously or subconsciously, we might avoid paths or opportunities that lead toward our perceived destiny out of fear or self-doubt.

- **Existential Point of View**: Existentialists would argue that life has no inherent 'meaning' or 'destiny' until we decide what it is. In this view, destiny might be something we construct through our dedication and commitment to certain values or goals.

- **Personal Growth**: Reflecting on whether we're running from a perceived destiny could prompt personal growth. It might involve self-examination, asking whether our current life aligns with our deeper desires or 'calling'.

@flux11's perspective aligns with the idea of agency, where one's effort and dedication can shift what might appear as an immutable destiny. Here's a thought:

If we take destiny as the final outcome or a series of life-changing events, and free will as our capacity to choose, we could see it like this: Free will is the player controlling the character while destiny is the story or level set by the game's design. You can choose to stray away from the story or even end the game short, or you can embrace it and go through all the challenges and growth, leading to the 'intended' ending.

This nuanced view suggests that destiny can be like software with an update feature - you choose to update or not.

In any case, these concepts can inspire us to live deliberately and mindfully, perhaps understanding life as a dance between choice and the cosmic choreography.

[[RossQuestions]]