Navigating the Dance Between Choice and Fate

Last week on social media I posted about my confusion around free will and predestination. The gist of my post was me trying to understand if we are guided by free will, destiny or some combination of the two? And, I had lots of comments for a change, lol! Everyone seems to have an idea about how this part of life works, but almost everyone agreed that it is indeed both. Here’s my boiled down version of my newfound understanding.

Let’s begin with a basic understanding of free will. Free will is the ability of humans to make choices and decisions independent of external influences. We have the power to shape our lives and create our own unique path in this world. We get to create our lives through our choices.

Predestination, on the other hand, is the idea that events or outcomes are predetermined by fate, destiny, or a higher power. With destiny taking the reins or our lives, we are merely players in the grand stage of life. The script is already written, and we don’t have control. In this way, everything happens for a reason and there are no accidents or coincidences.

Happily, both free will and predestination can exist together even though the two seem to be paradoxical. The two actually perform a dance that points to the interconnectedness of all things. Part of life is predetermined, such as where and how we were raised, our past, even our karma. Our free will, i.e. the choices, actions and intentions we make, can be informed by the predetermined parts of us. Free will is not opposed to predestination but rather a manifestation of it.

In this way we can both surrender to the divine flow of life, while honoring our ability to choose a new path. It is in this tension between freedom and fate that we can recognize our true humanity. The ability to love, learn, and evolve all comes from this beautiful dance between the two. The best thing to do is trust the wisdom from within and enjoy the ride of life’s twists and turns.