To what extent are we the masters of our fates?

1. 85

   midget38posted 11 years ago

   To what extent are we the masters of our fates?

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2. 41

   ChristinSposted 11 years ago

   We are always in control of how we choose to act, think, feel and react to the things that go on around us.  Those choices ultimately determine where we are led, so I would say we are completely in control of our own destiny for the most part.  We can't control others or things that happen in the world, but no one can take away our personal power to determine what we do with our lives despite our circumstances.

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      PoeticPhilosophyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Christin said it, I never need to make a answer cause of her haha but I support her she said it perrrfect.

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3. 71

   stanwshuraposted 11 years ago

   I think there are too many variables to face this question with any realistic capability.  But, extending that condition beyond your question, that there are too many variables outside of our rationally wanton or factual control, I lean toward believing that we are not such masters after all.   Do we have some control over many of the micro elements in our daily lives?  Surely.  But I think the macro of our ultimate place when our finish lines come is largely beyond our control.
   
   This holds especially true to those born to some significant disadvantage be it of socio-economic nature or that of disability.  It is an unpopular reality among the boot-strap preachers out there, but it is basic.  Where and how we start determines in large part where and how we finish.

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4. 61

   NiaLeeposted 11 years ago

   It depends on our situations, environment but also a lot on our consciousness and inner strength, our ability to plan, adapt and be resilient.
   Keeping the price in the mind and having a clear vision of ourselves and our world helps shape a better today and tomorrow.

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5. 85

   Abby Campbellposted 11 years ago

   I have to agree with Stan in that there are many variables when it comes to mastering our fate. Sure, we can plan, make decisions, and try to guide our destiny. However, certain variables do come into play from time to time.
   
   Example 1:
   Several years ago, my dad was building a garage onto his new home. He had planned it out with drawings, worked with subcontractors to build it, and began building it. His goal was to have the garage completed within 30 days. One day, he was on a six foot ladder and took a fall. He was knocked unconscious and bleeding from the nose, mouth, and ears. The medivac helicopter rushed him to the hospital. He had emergency surgery where he had to have brain surgery, ended up in CICU for over a month, and then had to live in a trauma hospital for several months to relearn how to eat, talk, walk, etc. He was definitely not the master of his fate the day he took that fall.
   
   Example 2:
   Several years ago when my nephew was a kid, he was overweight. He was teased, bullied, and even beaten throughout his elementary through high school years. Though he could control how he handled the situation, his feelings were hurt throughout his young life. Could he control it completely? He didn't ask to be bullied and beaten. Could he have controlled his feelings completely? Feelings, attitude, and behavior can be a result of outside variables because one is hurt and in protection mode. It may not be something he chooses but it is a result due to human nature.
   
   Therefore, I would say that to a 'certain' extent, we are the masters of our fate. But, we are NOT in total control.

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   Jynzlyposted 11 years ago

   Excellent question! My answer is a definite "we are the masters of our fates to the extent of how creative we are and our personal ability and willingness to pursue our dreams no matter what...and all these is based in our deepest core beliefs in ourselves."

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      ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Love this answer! I agree. Outer circumstances can influence but ultimately we determine what we do by our conviction and ability to overcome and achieve.

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   Darrell Robertsposted 11 years ago

   I would say to a very small extent when looking at the big picture.  I do not think I choose to be born, nor did I choose my ancestors, or location of my birth i.e. this particular planet.  I do not remember being consulted on if I would be born a particular race, gender, or in a specific time period.  In addition, my influence over who else would be born on the planet with me, makes me think that I am the master of nothing, much less of my fate. 
   
   Sorry, it I may not sound so inspiring, but think about it, how could we even have a free will if we do not know if we had the choice to be born. 
   
   If I were the master of my own fate, I would be laying on the beach with friends eating fruits, singing songs, dancing and admiring the grandeur of creation.  All this hard work for survival would not be on my agenda. 
   
   Anyway, I wish you well on your journey.

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      NiaLeeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree, though we can change our lives drastically or progressively if we are aware and work on a plan, or get lucky, they are many factors that even in our minds can stop us or slow us down, we need to free our minds first, then make changes

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      Darrell Robertsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Controlling the mind is more difficult than controlling the wind, it is so restless.  But that is what need to get done so we could have more successful lives.

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   manatita44posted 11 years ago

   To a 'limited' extent. The Inner Pilot gives us limited freedom, so called 'free will' but we are actually like an animal tied to a very long rope. We travel and graze until we graze too far and suddenly the rope pulls us back. If God is omnipresent, then we cannot be truly free and it is He who ultimately acts in and through us.
   
   So we walk a path or travel a course, but with some travails and adversity in order to encourage or facilitate growth. It is these obstacles or impediments in the way, that reminds us that we are not truly free. As such each one gradually learns to renounce his/her own capacities, and becomes a more willing instrument in the hands of Something Higher.
   "Prayer begins when human capacity ends."- Sri Chinmoy

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   Globetrekkermelposted 11 years ago

   Honestly , I believe that we are a part (not the master ) of our fate. When we showed up in this earth,pretty much, all has been taken cared of, by someone higher than ourselves. There is nothing left to chance. I firmly believe there is an intelligent system who is pulling,controlling and  directing the strings of our life.It may not seem that way sometimes as we have to go through "STRUGGLES" but then again, there is always the calm after the storm. In this regard, I believe that we are not responsible for our fate. We have been pre-molded into a clean slate even before we showed up in this earth.Nothing to worry about and whatever we accomplished in this lifetime,we  owe it to the generosity of others and to someone much higher than ourselves.Without all of them , we are nothing .That puts humility in its proper perspective.

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      wheatbaybayposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree we or not the master's of our fate in life. We are allowed to play a part in it to a certain extent. I think we are allowed to make choices that can make life either easy or hard.

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    MizBejabbersposted 11 years ago

    As a metaphysical person, I believe that before we are born our souls exist and most of us agree to a “Soul Contract” as to how we live this particular life. I believe that we agree to work off certain karmas, and by doing so, we are controlling our fates before we are born. We choose our birth time, our birth parents, and where we are born. After birth, we have free will to fulfill the contract or not. Sometimes we get into situations where it appears that we have been given short shrift, but the point is to learn a soul lesson and sometimes those lessons can be very difficult. We wonder "what in the hell got us into this situation." It wasn't Hell, my friend. Look in the other direction.
    
    Difficult times may make us feel like we are not in control of our lives and maybe we are not by earthly standards, but we are right on track with our agreement with the higher. And then there are people who choose to do as they please and think they are in control of their lives. A good example is the prodigal son in the bible, who learned his lesson early and went home to papa.

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    wheatbaybayposted 11 years ago

    I think to a certain extent we are master's of our fate. We were endowed with free will and so we can make choices that determine how our lives go. But on the other hand, we can't sometimes help what happens in life. But I still believe in a higher power and so God ultimately controls what happens in life; no matter what decisions we make.

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