 What obligation do we have to determine and manage our personal destiny? What role does fate or free will play in determining who we become (our destiny)?
How do the concepts of luck and coincidence relate to one’s destiny? Are these instances of the universe working with you towards your goal or simply chance events?
73 Comments
Kayla Buypal
5/19/2014 03:55:13 am
I personally don't believe in predetermined destiny. I think that we make out own destiny through the choices we make in our life time. Who we become and where we end up all depends on how we act and how we treat others. If you lie, cheat, and steal your way through life your destiny will ultimately be bad. However, if you choose the honest route, your destiny will be good. I believe that you get what you give. I suppose you could say I believe in karma, not destiny. I also don't believe in luck or coincidece. I think that how "lucky" you are is also based on the type of decisions you make. Like I said before, good decisions would make "good luck" and bad decisions would make "bad luck". Each and every person makes his or her own destiny, it's not predetermined for you.
Hannah B
5/19/2014 07:31:48 am
I agree with you Kayla! I had very similar points to you, that you made. I think that our destiny is not predetermined, like you said. The choices we make as individuals, will impact our future, and it is important that everyone knows, we choose our own destiny.
Dan Trombetta
5/19/2014 10:31:32 am
I agree that the type of "luck" you get is directly related to the lifestyle you lead. You really do get what you give because you put yourself into situations in life, fate doesn't do it for you.
Victoria C
5/19/2014 12:48:35 pm
Though I do believe that outside forces do sometimes interact, I agree that our destiny is mostly what we choose to make it. In that sense, I agree with you Kayla. I also like how you defend your beliefs and are firm in them, especially with the concluding sentence.
Tommy Baker
5/21/2014 06:27:51 am
Kayla, I agree with what you said about karma and how you get what you give. In this sense, you do control your own destiny because if you are nice to others, people will be nice to you and if you are mean to others, people will be mean to you. With this being said, I still believe that people are born with a predetermined destiny and that not everyone will always be nice and have good karma. People may think it is easy to change but I disagree because it is who they are and was determined before we learned how to even walk.
Kaleigh B
5/21/2014 02:19:16 pm
Preach! Amen! Kayla I agree with you 100%! couldn't have said it better myself. make your own life choices and it will affect what kind of future you have, totally agree!
Victoria C
5/19/2014 03:57:58 am
Determining and managing our personal destiny IS our obligation in life. However, I think that some outside forces that are beyond our control may contribute to our destiny. The things in life that we can't control and would end up happening anyway are known as fate. Things happening because of fate and because of our personal decisions and choices lead us down paths that shape our lives. Some paths can't be chosen (the ones that fate choose), but the personal decisions we make and that are up to us is what we choose, and can lead us down a good or bad path. The type of path that is chosen is up to the individual. Luck and coincidence can also become factors in where our destiny takes us. These are things that would typically boost someone forward in some way, usually working in that person's favor. People see luck and coincidence as random happenings, but in a way, I think that they are actually times when the universe is working with you. These instances typically come when we need them most, or when we just feel so low, like we can't continue on. They are almost like the world's way of saying to not give up, and the boost of luck given will get you back on the right track and re-concentrate on the important things.
Megan V
5/19/2014 05:16:12 am
Victoria, I agree with you on the outside forces that are beyond our control. Sometimes certain things will happen that we can not control whether it's who we encounter or where we are at the wrong or right time. I believe that we have the decision to choose which path we go down and that there is a good path and a bad path. Yes we can control which path we go down but there are certain things that we have no control over.
Kayla Buypal
5/19/2014 05:56:08 am
Tori, though I don't agree with what your saying, you formulated your thoughts very eloquently. I enjoyed reading a different point of view, maybe this will help me to be less harsh about the realities of life. Great input.
Jessica H
5/19/2014 10:56:37 am
I like how you mentioned that the type of path we follow is chosen by us. Although I don't agree that we have predetermined destinies, I do think the point you make about how coincidences come when we need them most is very interesting!
Taylor D
5/19/2014 12:33:36 pm
I also agree that the choices that we make are what shape our life's and that we can control but there is still that part of our lives that we have no control over. I like the idea that luck and coincidence are times when you have almost built up some good karma and the universe does something that is in your favor and that it is sometimes a boost of confidence to keep going.
Natalie P
5/20/2014 03:36:29 pm
Victoria, I certainly agree that determining our personal destiny is our obligation in life and that outside forces have an unchangeable control on our destiny. You're definitely right in saying that personal decisions shape our lives, and I agree that certain paths can and can not be chosen. Overall, very well said!
Sarah W
5/21/2014 12:58:34 am
I like how you defended both side of the argument because I also believe that our lives are a combination of both. Working for what we want in life is our job because what else would we have to life for? It is true though that some things just happen by luck and we've done nothing to control them.
Megan V
5/19/2014 05:10:40 am
I believe that everything happens for a reason. Every hardship we face and every person we meet is put there for a reason. We face certain things so that we can learn from them. We meet certain people who either hurt us or are a blessing in our life. We encounter obstacles that are put in our way as a test as to which path we choose to take. Looking back on my life I realize that I wouldn’t be where I am today if none of my past happened. I believe that it all leads us to where we need to be. I think ultimately our destiny is determined by which path we choose to follow. I think that we are given many opportunities to choose the right path. I believe that if we choose the wrong path we have the opportunity to get back on the right one. Unfortunately some people never learn from their mistakes and end up going down the wrong path too many times and eventually cannot get out. It’s all up to the decisions that we make in our lives. I think that luck and coincidences are not actually luck and coincidences. I think that things like that happen for a reason and are put there in front of us to help us.
Kevin K
5/21/2014 09:42:55 am
I agree. I think that everything happens for a reason. I think the things that may seem like a coincidence are nearly choices we make. It can either be an opportunity or it can be just be a path avoided. People are in control of their own destiny. Each person just has a different way of bonding with it. In the long run, a person is bound to do what they want to do and their destiny is determined by their will to succeed in that area.
Hannah B
5/19/2014 07:30:32 am
I don’t really believe in predetermined destiny. I believe that as humans out destiny is chosen by the choices we make. However, there are some outside forces that come into play. For example, being placed in school allows us to make friends, whereas being placed at home and being home schooled doesn’t allow any social interaction with anyone. The way humans interact with one another, how we act towards each other will determine whether or not we receive good or bad destiny. If you choose to act mean to everyone you will receive bad destiny, because no one will like you or hire you as a person. If you act nice to everyone you will receive good destiny. I believe strongly in this because you determine what path you are going to take. Luck and coincidence can come into play when talking about destiny, because I feel like sometimes when you’re low, you’ll receive luck and this is just how the life of a human goes. Luck and coincidence both explain that the universe can be helping to work towards your goal. When you’re down and need picking back up again, you may get lucky and someone in the world can help or the universe in general. Your destiny is not predetermined, as an individual you choose the path you walk down, and I believe it’s important that everyone knows you determine your future, not the world or the people around you.
Taylor Saja
5/19/2014 11:13:20 am
Hannah, I agree with your opinion on a predetermined destiny and made some of the same points as well. Great point about public schooling vs. home-schooling, a student isn't placed there by destiny, just simply how their cards played out. Nice response!
Megan C
5/20/2014 06:19:01 am
I agree that there are consequences for all actions. I believe that a person needs to work towards the life that they want, you can only create the destiny that you want for yourself and that luck wont just bring it to you. And that if your nice to people that doesn't mean that your destiny will be good, it may just mean that you will receive good karma, and not your whole destiny.
Sara ponce
5/22/2014 10:08:47 am
Hannah, I really like your last point. I completely agree That you as an individual decide your own future. Although were influenced by outside sources, we have the final say in who we want to be and what we want to do.
Sara ponce
5/22/2014 10:14:02 am
Hannah, I completely agree with your last point That you as an individual decide your own future. Although were influenced by outside sources, we have the final say in who we want to be and what we want to do.
Jessica H
5/19/2014 10:48:24 am
I don’t think we are predestined for anything in our lives. I feel that it’s too farfetched to believe that our entire lives are figured out before we’re even born; to me it just doesn’t seem logical. But I do believe that the way we act during situations may change how others view us or change our future situations. We ultimately decide our own futures; it’s based on how we deal with circumstances and how we treat others. Therefore, we have every opportunity in the world to manage our personal destiny: our future. Although these views may be directly contradicting each other, I do believe in luck and coincidences. A lot of the time luck is created by the choices you make. For example, if you decide to ease your way through life by taking advantage of others then your luck will obviously be perceived as bad. On the contrary, if you work hard your whole life you are bound to have created good luck for yourself. You have to work hard to get to where you want to be. Certainly some people will have everything handed to them, but they won’t have the satisfaction of having jumped all the hurdles themselves and having accomplished so much on their own. Work for what you want and you will have good luck and a successful future that you can feel accomplished about.
Zach Pranger
5/21/2014 12:22:06 pm
This is a great response. I agree with you in not believing in pre-destination. I think that's a very outlandish concept that we can't change our lives. If we choose to change something, then depending on the actions we take, we can accomplish change.
Sara p
5/22/2014 10:18:54 am
Jess, great response. It is true that how we deal with things and how we treat others determines our future. I agree that you must work for what you want. Do good and good will come back to you.
Kerstin E
5/22/2014 11:54:52 am
I strongly agree with everything you said. Our destiny is completely in our control. I liked how you went into talking about how a person has more satisfaction having to work for something rather than a person having things handed to them. Hard work truly does pay off in the end.
Taylor Saja
5/19/2014 11:09:16 am
Everyone has choices to make in life that guides them to where they end up. I do not necessarily believe in “destiny.” Things work out in a certain way and people call it “fate.” But I more so think following one’s passion plays a bigger role than a predetermined destiny by outside forces. Every person on this planet is dealt a different hand and it is their responsibility to play those cards. Tragedies occur in people’s lives everyday, which influence their character majorly. Dreams, ideas, beliefs, and so on change day to day, so to say everyone has a certain “destiny” does not really make sense in my opinion. An event can occur that totally alters what someone may have had in mind. Although I don’t believe in destiny, luck is a little more reasonable. Or maybe certain people are in the right place at the right time rather than being “lucky.” These things are open to interpretation, but all in all, I believe each person is responsible for shaping their own future regardless of any "outside forces."
Dilsara L
5/20/2014 07:20:38 pm
I completely agree with you Taylor. You can't wait around and hope for good things to happen to you, you need to take action in your own life to have a better future.
Kevin L
5/21/2014 07:38:30 am
Taylor, I really like this response and specifically this line, " Every person on this planet is dealt a different hand and it is their responsibility to play those cards." I agree that everyone is given different talents and abilities but it is up to them to make the right choices to lead them to their final destiny.
Brianna Guilherme
5/19/2014 12:25:47 pm
I feel that both outside forces and our own free will determine out so called destiny. Yes, we make choices as to what goes on and what happens with our lives, but we do not necessarily know how it will end up. That’s where I believe outside forces come and help with guiding us toward our destiny. We all take risks in life that we never know how it will end, which is when fake comes along to help you. I am a firm believer that you get what life gives you. I think that by making good choices in life it will help lead you towards a wonderful and successful destiny. If bad choices are made constantly through a person's life then they will live a not so wonderful life in the future. I believe in both luck and coincidence contribute to one's life. I believe that these luck and coincidence events happen because the universe is helping all of us towards our goal of having a wonderful life. For example, many people find the love of their life just by coincidentally and luckily walking into a certain store at a certain point in time. Another example, would be what happened at 9/11. Although horrific many people survived the attack because of weird coincidences that had happened that day like they were out getting coffee or their car broke down. This luck had actually happened to my mom. On the day of 9/11 she was called out of her meeting at a bank near the twin towers. If she wasn’t called out then she herself could have been caught in the midst of the towers falling like her boss was. Whether it was luck or coincidence, the universe made it so that she was not supposed to go in that day. This happens every day with other people in the world 24/7. They make life choices or the universe takes over and says "I got this" for the day and helps lead a person towards the path of success, or their destiny.
Casey S.
5/22/2014 02:31:07 am
I completely agree with you Bri that your destiny can be self determined but also determined by coincidence and fate. Outside forces play a huge role in what happens in one's life because not everything can be controlled by one person.
Taylor D
5/19/2014 12:28:21 pm
Personal destiny is something that can be molded by our choices and decisions but there are still some things that we have no control over we can only react. Yes sometimes you are dealt a hand of cards and it all depends on how you play what you were given. If you as a person want to push and drive yourself to succeed eventually you will be rewarded, so in that instance you can change your fate by controlling what you take from the situation. I believe that there is a marked planned path for you in your life we are given obstacles to prove who we are and depending on how we react to certain situations that are out of our control or just not what was planned will help change our destiny. You can always take the tough times and throw yourself a pity party or you can take it, grow and realize what you need to take from the experience and apply it to your next challenge. If you take it with optimism and look to the bright side and know that if you do all you could and the outcome was not in your favor you won’t be stuck in that slump you can change your destiny. I don’t think life can be left up to chance; there is a large part that is chance and luck but that can only get you so far. So I think that life is what you make it because you can’t always control everything but you can control how you perceive life and what you make of it.
Clara M
5/22/2014 12:21:45 pm
I agree with you Taylor. It is true that there are a lot of things we have no control over and we can only react to. We have a choice to react positively or negatively to these things. And just like you said we can take negative things and apply the fixes to future situations. That way, instead of taking everything negatively it would benefit us in the long run.
Jeff H
5/19/2014 01:36:34 pm
I feel as though that in life we have neither sole control of our destiny nor do we not have any ability to change our fate. I believe that we have a mixture of the two sides. The choices on decides to make in life will affect their future destiny. However, those people whom surround us in life are able to influences those choices that we make which will in turn affect the paths which our lives will follow. As for the concepts of luck and coincidence. Luck can be viewed in a couple different ways, neither of which do I believe are truly affect one's destiny in life. The first way that luck can be viewed is through the idea of a lottery. People believe that those who win the lottery or the Powerball are lucky when in actuality they are just the person to buy that winning ticket. Luck doesn't really exist, it's just an idea. The other aspect of luck is used to describe those who have are wealthy or are academically well rounded or even to those who are good at sports. Again, these "lucky" people aren't some special few who were chosen by some mystical force to be wealthy or good at sports. They are who they are due to genetics, lifestyle and hard work. I do feel that coincidences do affect one's destiny in the sense that if you hadn't been involved in a certain coincidence than your life would be altered greatly. For instance, say that the teacher you had in high school never had that one occurrence in which they knew that they wanted to be a teacher. Without that mere one act they may have never have been your teacher, or even have known you for that matter. Had Martin Luther King been born in a different era of time millions of people's lives would be changed. Therefore I feel as though coincidence can greatly affect one's destiny.
Marcus
5/20/2014 07:51:34 am
I agree with Jeff in saying that the choices that one makes in life will effect their future. The decisions that you make everyday can put a damper on your whole life so each one is important.
Delaney D
5/21/2014 02:36:10 am
I completely agree with what you said about fate and destiny being an even mix. I also agree with the influences of others around us, and that being "lucky" is just something that happens to a select few people. I also like the analogy you provide with winning the power ball. You're right about luck not actually existing, but more the fate of the persons life.
@MattDog_5
5/21/2014 06:29:19 am
Jeff, I do not agree with your view on coincidences. I do not believe that other peoples choices influence your life that much. If the teacher never became a teacher, you would just be in someone else's class and would be just fine.
Jeff H
5/19/2014 01:46:02 pm
I agree with you Kayla when you said that we make our own destiny through the choices we make in our lives. Our choices, regardless of our environment, surroundings, and influences are ours to make. And those choices we make will affect our lives in some way, shape, or form. I also agree with you when you say that we get what we give. I am a big believer in karma and it really does have an effect on our lives.
Megan C
5/20/2014 06:15:10 am
I do not believe in fate. If you want to accomplish something for yourself you have to make it happen. In some instances there are outside forces that we cannot control what happens. But most of the time you can be in control of your reaction. Free will is a big part of achieving whatever you are striving for. Free will gives you the ability to do what you want with your life, and make the decisions for yourself. In that I do not think that we have a set destiny, and that every time we make a decision using our own free will we may be straying off of a set path. I do not think that luck can bring you to your destiny. Lucky things may occur, like you find $50 on the ground but that will not affect your life in the larger picture. The universe I don’t think works in anyone’s favor. The only way to look at the world working in your favor is that you yourself take what life has to offer and make the best out of it for whatever goal you are looking to obtain out of life. When life gives a situation, you have to make it work for you.
Marcus
5/20/2014 07:49:40 am
I don't believe that we have a destiny. I think that people make things happen in their lives. There is not a set destiny that is laid out for you to uphold or live up to. I don't believe in fate, I do believe in free will though in that if you want something to happen it will not just happen for you. You have to make it happen for yourself. I don't think that luck has anything to do with it where as coincidence can play a role in it but will not make it happen for you. I don't think its the universe at all but it all falls on you and the decisions and choices that you make but simply coincidence can play a role in the path toward your goals. If you have a drive toward a goal, not a destiny that is supposedly predetermined, then I believe that you can attain it if you are relentless in your perseverance. I think that people should have an obligation to themselves that they should want to reach what is their full potential or something that they want out of life.
Aaron Bullivant
5/21/2014 03:01:31 pm
Marcus I totally agree. People make their own lives as they grow. nothing is ever truly set in stone when it comes down to it. we all have the option to make our future our own.
Kyle Chudoba
5/22/2014 12:27:26 pm
Marcus Esteves, I really like what you say about making your own path. People need to work hard to achieve their success in life and you really touched me with your blog post.
Natalie P
5/20/2014 03:56:30 pm
I personally believe that throughout our lives, we live and learn through personal choices that can greatly effect our destiny. We can make bad choices that will cause us to stroll down a path that may come to a dead end, or we can choose positive, beneficial choices that lead us to become competent, successful people. I think fate plays just as much part as personal control does when it comes to our destiny. I think that every person is meant to achieve something of some sort, yet it is up to them to decide on how to get there. I believe that if something is truly meant to happen, it will happen whenever and however it is supposed to. I also think that coincidence and luck play a minor part in our destiny. Luck comes to those who deserve it, and coincidences happen to show little, sly signs directing us to the right choices in life. Therefore, I don't think coincidences just happen, but I think they have a purpose in occurring and help guide us to the right instead of the wrong, rather than being just by chance. By saying luck comes to those who deserve it, I think it stands for good karma. Those who are headed down the right path deserve to know they are headed in the right direction, therefore get "lucky" in certain instances. All in all, coincidences help rectify one's decisions while luck positively reinforces them.
Becky G
5/21/2014 03:15:29 pm
Natalie, i completely agree with you, in saying that fate and destiny is determined through the choices we make. I also really like the point you made, stating that coincidences are sly hints telling us that we're going on the right path. That was something really interesting to think about. I had never thought of that, but now that you brought it up, i completely agree. But i dont really agree with what you said about how luck and karma are related. Karma is what goes around comes around. And if someone is lucky enough to win a million dollars, i don't think that the person who gave away the million dollars is going to be as lucky enough as to get it back.
Bri Germond
5/22/2014 02:04:04 am
I agree with Natalie that if something is truly meant to happen, it will happen. I think that for this reason, you shouldn't waste your time stressing about having certain things happen in your life
Dilsara L
5/20/2014 07:17:31 pm
I don’t believe that our destiny is predetermined because it’s difficult to believe that our entire life is figured out even before we step out into the world. Your destiny, whether good or bad, is brought upon you by your own actions and decisions. It’s up to you whether you want to go down a good path or a bad path because in the end you know vaguely of what the outcome will be due to your actions. In some situations, there are outside forces beyond your control that will cause something to happen in your life without your consent which is known as “fate”. When something bad happens in someone’s life, they call it fate because they want something else to blame other than them for what they got themselves in. You can change your fate by controlling the situation that you got yourself in in a proper and right way. Although I don’t believe in destiny, I do believe in karma, luck and coincidence. Luck or karma, good and bad, are usually given to you because of the choices that you make. You will have good karma or luck if you do the morally right things in situations such as pushing yourself to be a better person and treating others with respect. However, you will get bad karma or luck, if you take advantage of others and take the easy way out by using them to better yourself. What goes around, comes back around is essentially what karma is and I am a firm believer that doing good will cause good to happen and doing bad will cause bad to happen. Hoping on chance and the universe to make everything your life better is a lost cause. There’s only so much the universe can do to help you out. Each person is able to shape their futures by their actions and decisions.
Ryan P
5/21/2014 07:34:28 am
I agree with you Dilsara. Destiny can't be predetermined without the established basis of ones life. In other words, one can't have predetermined luck if they have nothing with them to begin with.
Sarah W
5/21/2014 12:51:59 am
I am a firm believer that you have to work for what you want. If you want to achieve something you might not have to work countless hours in the office, but success isn’t just going to come out of nowhere. Although I know this is true through personal experience, believing that everything happens for a reason is also true. I think that no matter what we do or how hard we try, there is a reason why that something happen or was unsuccessful or successful. We may not know the reason behind that something happening, but we later find out that there was a positive of what it became. Although some things do only happen if you work for it, in rare cases our fate determines our reality. My senior quote by John F. Kennedy, “Things do not happen. Things are made to happen,” speaks to the fact that things are created by you to occur. So by this quote, fate doesn’t often determine who we become. The only time fate plays a role in our lives is when we get lucky. Luck is meant to have the world help you towards your goal. People who work harder and know what they want deserve to have more luck than those who don’t.
Kevin K.
5/21/2014 01:35:15 am
Personal destiny is a choice and an individual can choose their career in the United States. A person may choose to become one thing and others might disapprove of it, but it is their choice to pursue a career. Fate is decided by the individual themselves. Luck and coincidence are commonly factors that help a person find their career. My interest in becoming a nurse was much greater after I got the opportunity to become part of the medical internship program. I found out because I was waiting after school and viewed it on the television screen as I was sitting there waiting. It was only a few minute wait, but those few lucky minutes and the coincidence that the internship was on one of the slides helped me choose my career. I had already known what I wanted to do, but the opportunity allowed me to further investigate the different options. These opportunities are both chance and me working toward my goals. It was change that I saw the announcement. However, it was the instance of the universe working with me that made me decide to pursue the internship. It ended up being an experience I would trade for nothing.
Delaney D
5/21/2014 02:33:58 am
I think that everyone has a path in their life that they are meant to follow, but the way in which they get their is based upon the decisions they make along the way. It isn't necessarily a pre-determined destiny but more of a vague description of the goals you can achieve in your lifetime. I think that we each have our own free will as humans but at the same time our free will is only an extension of the path that we are already committed to. I do not believe in luck or coincidences either. I am a firm believer in the notion that everything happens for a reason, and that there are no "chance events" for us to encounter in our lives. Although it may seem that way sometimes, its all for a future effect. I don't think that saying an event that turned out badly is fate is distributing the blame on someone else just as much as I don't think that taking all the credit for all the gifts you receive through out the day and calling them "luck" is right.
@MattDog_5
5/21/2014 06:18:10 am
I do not believe that each person has their own destiny. I believe your life is a sequence of events that depend on previous decisions. There are billions of people in the world, and I find it hard to believe that each person’s life is predetermined. The only obligation we have is what makes us happy. What we do today will better prepare us for tomorrow, but it is not our duty. If you decide to sit on the couch today, you aren’t changing your fate, you’re just wasting your time. I also don’t believe in luck. I do not think that a certain person has a better advantage than someone else. I believe that what most people call luck is really just odds. For example, people thinking winning the lottery would make them lucky, but that’s not the case. Everyone who plays the lottery has the same chance of winning. There are not any instances where the universe helps you, only you being more prepared than other people.
Tommy B
5/21/2014 06:21:08 am
Personally, I do believe in fate and destiny. I believe that things we do in life do not matter and that we will end up in the same place in the end. I does not matter whether we take one path or another because I believe that at the end of the day, your fate was pre-determined and you will be standing in the same place. I think we can take different paths throughout life that may make someone happier but there will be another time in life when you chose another path that will make you sad and it will even out. I look at as a road that you run on. You can choose to go down the hill on the left first then up the hill to get back, or you can start on the uphill and finish on the downhill. No matter what, you go up and down the same distance. Luck does play a role in someone's fate, too. Someone may have good luck at one point but will eventually have bad luck another time. Some people are luckier than others and may have a stroke of good luck when they are in a slump an others may have bad luck and simply have things pile on them. Like I said before, though, it will all even in out. Our fate is decided for us and you will always end up where you were meant to be.
Ryan P
5/21/2014 07:32:03 am
Everyone is completely obligated to determine and manage their own personal destiny. Though events that can be triggered and executed by other entities, it’s up to only the individual to deal with the cards they are dealt and power through any obstacles. Fate and free will are examples of entities that are outside forces. One can’t alter the force of fate that is dealt upon them. However, one is able to choose and abide to their own path of free will. Luck and coincidence are forces that can relate to one’s destiny. They shape and alter the trajectory of one’s destiny, giving a person obstacles to overcome as well as breaks along the road. These are a mixture between chance events and the universe working in your favor. Sometimes, you just get lucky and sometimes the cards you are dealt are dealt to you for a specific reason.
Kevin L
5/21/2014 07:35:09 am
I believe in life, you have a path that is predetermined. Everyone is on the Earth for a reason. Based on my religion and faith, god is the one who creates you for that specific reason. Throughout your life you have your given talents but it is up to you to make use of those abilities. You can be given all the talent in the world to reach your goals but if you don’t choose correct paths and don’t take opportunities when they are given to you, you will not succeed and reach your ultimate destiny. So in a way fate and free will go hand and hand when talking about someone’s destiny because everyone is given the tools to succeed but they need to take them and run. I also believe that luck plays a factor in where you will end up in life, because everyone has good days and bad. Everybody catches some breaks time to time, however everything also happens for a reason. So if something bad happens to a person and it was considered bad luck, it had a purpose to it to ultimately push you closer to your goal because there is always a lesson to be learned with every situation.
Colleen I
5/22/2014 02:03:29 am
Kevin, I agree with you 100%. In my faith and religion I believe the same things. And although "bad luck" may occur, what is really happening in that event is that it is a learning experience or it pushes you, like you said, closer to where you were meant to go. However, it is your choice as to whether or not you want to listen to those signs and learn from your mistakes or bad luck situations.
@Lindenator_Esq (Adam L)
5/22/2014 08:47:14 am
I definitely agree with you that God has a plan for all of us. We can either follow the plan or not. It is up to us to use what we have been given to reach where we are supposed to be.
Zach Pranger
5/21/2014 12:32:10 pm
I believe we are completely in charge of our own destiny. We can shape our lives based on the choices we make, the actions we take, and the amount of work we put into something. I don't believe we have a set fate. We are free to choose who we become. A very simple example explaining how we choose our own destiny is taking a test in school. We can choose to pay attention in class, study at home, learn the material, and do well. Or we can choose to not retain the information, and fail. Destiny is entirely in our own hands. I believe luck and coincidence and chance events. The universe is not a living being and doesn't "work" with people. If something good happens to you without you working for it, you just happened to have good fortune briefly. Being lucky, for instance, in a casino, is purely based on chance. Everything happens for a reason which allows you to shape your own destiny.
Michael D.
5/22/2014 07:53:52 am
I agree with you completely Mr. Zach. Not 9 not are you incredibly handsome, but you are smart too. I agree with your conclusion that a pre-determined destiny is non existent.
Kaleigh B
5/21/2014 01:57:04 pm
I believe that each individual has the opportunity to create their own destiny. Just like how one can wake up in the morning and depending on their mood it can affect their day and or destiny of that day. However I don’t believe that there is a plan already made for our destiny. In any situation there is always a chance for you to find the positive or negative, become a leader or follower, speak or listen, argue or agree; and with these choices you make your own destiny. Luck and coincidence I believe are unexpected surprises and can really brighten someone’s day and affect your destiny, however I don’t believe it is predestined.
Aaron Bullivant
5/21/2014 02:57:10 pm
As free humans we all have the opportunity to shape our fate how we please. We as people tend to believe that things happen for a reason and sometimes it helps to believe that. It helps the changes that are presented to us be put into perspective. But we are able to take these bumps and mold them into what we want them to be. There may be the feeling of fate in our lives but it is always something that we are able to shape into what. Destiny is something that would be terrible when it came down to it purely because the fact that we would not be in control of our lives would make life miserable for many people. That is why it ultimately falls to us to manage how we live our life and how our own “fate” plays out. Fate is something that we have to take into our own hands, instead of believing that a greater power will take care of it for us. Destiny is something that is never decided for you but rather something that you forge as you go through your life. That is why I believe that destiny and fate are not things that can come pre-determined for your but are things that you have control over, they are things that luck really has no play in and belief is only there to help you cope with the changes that are at hand at the time.
Becky G
5/21/2014 03:07:39 pm
I believe that we can have an effect on our destiny through the choices we make in our lives. I think that anyone can be anything as long as they put their minds to it. Free will can be a powerful thing, if used towards good. If someone is willing to make a good choice on their own, then that effects their destiny. We have complete control of the choices we make in life, so we determine our own future. We can also make an effect on fate, just like destiny. If we make good choices, then fate will swing back around and drop something good in return. Just like karma, and the saying "what goes around comes around". I think luck is just purely luck. Everyone has those unlucky days where nothing goes their way and they think that they have the worst luck in the world. But then they have those days where everything goes their way, and they're having a really lucky day. Having good luck and bad luck is completely random, I dont think luck has to do with fate or destiny at all.
Brianna Germond
5/21/2014 03:26:05 pm
I don't believe that our destiny is predetermined. I think that the actions that you take and how hard you work are all factors to where you end up in life. Not one person or one thing can tell you who you're going to be and how your life is going to be because everything can change if you want it to, you just have to take the initiative to make that change in your life. I believe that some things happen that are out of your control and can greatly affect everything that you previously had going on in your life with would be coincidence that by chance that thing happens to you. The same thing goes the other way with luck where something great can happen to your life that can completely change everything, but you didn't make it happen, i.e. the lottery. I do not believe that we have a fate. I believe that the only way to reach the destiny that you want is to go out and get it no matter what it takes because life isn't just going to hand you want you want, you have to work for it
Colleen I
5/22/2014 02:01:15 am
I personally believe that God has predetermined our destiny and what our purpose is in life. I believe that everyone is on this Earth for a reason, otherwise God would not have created you. Each experience you go through brings you one step closer to finding what your predetermined destiny is. The choices you make are the ones that bring you closer to determining what your purpose is in life. "Luck" and "coincidence" are not such existing concepts. These things happen for a reason and that is because God wanted you to have those things, or protect you. For instance, during 911 someone survived because something spilled on his/her outfit and they had to change. God was protecting you. Another example, I always notice that when I am in a rush to go and drive somewhere, I'm planning on speeding, but then the slowest car goes in front of me until I reach my destination. I see that as God is protecting me from something bad that would have happened if I was speeding. All of these lucky coincidences occur because God wanted them to happen to you.
Casey S.
5/22/2014 02:29:17 am
I believe our personal destiny is determined by our own personal choices as well as outside forces. We can chose what path we plan to take in life, whether it is a career or a personal dream. However, there are factors that we, as individuals, cannot control. You can go into a job interview and give every ounce of effort into it but the person who is interviewing you overall has the deciding factor of whether or not you get that job. But the person can keep going to many different interviews until they finally achieve their goal. A person could also go their whole life thinking they want a certain career but then one day by chance events realize they have a love for another job. In instances such as love, however, coincidence and luck definitely play a role. You can really work towards finding your perfect soul mate. In my personal opinion, I believe fate will bring you and the person who are supposed to be with for the rest of your life together. Even if you believe that a certain person is your soul mate, fate can change that to where you actually find out that that person is not who you thought they were. The path in which your life goes can definitely be determined by what you do as a person, however, there are things in life that you cannot control as an individual and that is when I believe fate comes into play.
Michael D.
5/22/2014 07:52:22 am
In my opinion, luck and the thought that the universe determines your future is a farce. It's what you make of yourself that determines your future. You're actions are what opens door to opportunities, not the rest of the world. I believe that your destiny is never set in stone. In fact, life decisions will be what molds your "destiny". It is never too late to change the path you are on. Nothing is pre-determined, it is only a matter of decision making. Luck and coincidence are never garunteed. One cannot just be lucky, luck is a surprise more or less. In conclusion, life is what you make it.
Chris V
5/22/2014 09:39:34 am
I agree Mike that it is up to us to make our own future and not to rely on luck or fate.
@Lindenator_Esq (Adam L)
5/22/2014 08:43:02 am
I believe the God gives us different paths to choose from. I do not believe that every decision I ever make has been predetermined. I believe that I have a choice in everyday choices as well as life goals. But no matter what, I believe that there are people on this earth that we were meant to meet and have an impact on. I believe that there are instances where God leads me to where he wants me to go. However, I have the choice to ignore these nudges. So I believe in free will, but there is a loose path that we have here on the earth, guided by God. I believe in hard work and determination. But I do not believe in getting somewhere because you are lucky or not getting somewhere because you are unlucky. Being unlucky is just an excuse for the lack of hard work, or random choice not working in your favor. I think that if you choose to follow the path the God has lain out, that he will help you along the way.
Josh Thorne
5/22/2014 12:24:22 pm
That is interesting to think about meeting people is something that was meant to be. It really raises the question why we meet the people we do? This was a very good thought provoking post. If I had stars I would give one to you!
Chris V
5/22/2014 09:37:54 am
The world's greatest lie is that we can do anything we set our mind to. The sad fact is that the world limits us every day. Yes, we can achieve our goals, but it is only within reason. There are realistic boundaries the universe sets that keep us from being "whatever we want to be." Natural limits keep those who can't walk from walking just as the world keeps a terrible singer from having the number one hit. Whether natural or social, there are forces in the universe that keep us from doing everything and anything. We can, on the other hand, change our fate. Fate is not set in stone. We cannot leave our lives up to chance, we must control it ourselves. Fate is nothing but a series of random events that lead us to our futures. Luck is just chance and probibility and sometimes it is in our favor, sometimes it isn't. The universe does not send us luck when we need it. Rather, the universe could care less if we succeed or fail. Whether we succeed or fail the universe will continue on without a hitch. What we do is up to us, not the sky or the stars or the "powers that be."
Sisi Ponce
5/22/2014 10:31:37 am
I do not believe in fate or destiny. I believe you can change who you are and your future at any moment. There are lessons all around us to guide us and help find ourselves. We shape ourselves and our future on how we react to situations and how we treat others. If we are willing to learn from our mistakes, work hard, and be good people, we will be rewarded the same way. Life is about finding yourself and doing what makes you happy. Afterall, we don't live forever, therefore we have to make the best of our lives. There is no path we must follow, we shouldn't listen to anyone but ourselves. Luck is just a way of how people refer to the good in their lives. Look at what makes you happy, that's your luck.
Mackenzie M
5/22/2014 11:27:30 am
Everyone should feel obligated to determine their own personal destiny. I believe that people use their own free will to determine who they will become and where they will go in life. In order to truly be happy, people must not be afraid to follow their dreams. Fate does play a role because not everything is within a person’s control, but it is up to the person to make their own decisions. People also make their own luck. It takes a lot of hard work for people to get what they want and become “lucky.” Some people may believe that coincidences and chance events are the universe working either for them or against them. However, it is the person’s own decisions that can lead to these events or make something out of them. Things do not just happen for people. They must work for what they want and achieve their personal destiny without relying on the universe.
Kerstin E
5/22/2014 11:48:53 am
Our destiny is not already set. I think we have full control of our personal destiny. Although there may be some exceptions when scenarios occur that cannot be prevented, you can always make the most of it. Your attitude towards life reflects on your success. With a positive attitude, almost anything can be achieved. Although some say our destiny is based on fate, we can always change where our destiny is headed. We always have different choices and if those choices are decided wisely we can become successful. Luck and coincidences can affect our destinies in ways that we cannot control. I believe luck is received purely by chance because not everyone is lucky. If something happens in your favor, you need to make sure you take advantage of the chance while you still have it.
Clara M
5/22/2014 12:15:38 pm
It is important for us to forge your own path. We need to keep it going in order to achieve a goal. I personally am not sure if I believe that there is a set destiny for everyone. I also don't believe that things happen as fate. When things that people would call fate happen I believe it is more of a coincidence. If someone really wants something they will work hard to achieve it. Therefore they work on it themselves. Things like this are achieved because the person doing them worked hard. However I do believe that luck exists. It is evident because some people experience so many good things that no one would have imagined happening to them.
Josh Thorne
5/22/2014 12:20:31 pm
I believe that we have complete control over our personal destiny. I don't think that there is some higher power that contributes to how we are able to achieve this personal destiny, although I would love to be proved wrong. I think that there are chance events that we sometimes fall into that helps us achieve our destiny, but I really believe that it is more like making most of the situation at hand. Sure whatever happens, happens for a reason, but I think that we put ourselves into these situations. Depending on how we handle these situations determines our destiny. If you are always negative about what is going on, then chances are you won't have a very positive future, but if you are positive and do the best things you can then your odds of a successful destiny is far better. I truly believe that we have complete control over our destiny, and that making the most of each situation while taking the most out of each one whether it is a good or bad situation determines our personal destiny.
Kyle Chudoba
5/22/2014 12:42:54 pm
I am a pretty strong believer that things happen for a reason. But the things that happen will be determined by how well of a human you are. If you do good deeds and work hard in life, good things will happen to the right people. Also, those who cheat and steal will have bad fortunes brought among them. However, sometimes good lives are cut short or some unlucky things happen to people who don't deserve it, but it may just be there fate. These struggles however may push a person to work harder and shape them to be a better person in the long run. I believe everyone has a different destiny, and destiny can be tied to dreams. If someone has a dream to do something, they will do anything it takes to achieve that dream. And probably along the way, a little luck will help them accomplish their destiny. However, if things don't work out, I believe that the person's destiny is something different. If everyone's life was laid out for them and they knew it, life would be very boring. The idea of not knowing what life holds is why it's worth living and the idea that we have to achieve our own destiny is what causes people to keep pushing through life. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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English 12 HPlease respond to the question in at least 10 sentences AND comment on another classmate's response. You can certainly disagree, but BE RESPECTFUL of the opinions/feelings of your classmates. Archives
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