The nature of your life’s direction remains an open question because you ask yourself if things are pre-determined or you exercise self-determining choices. Think about it. Each of your decisions together with all your steps potentially serve the strings of an epic plan you would not be able to comprehend. Spooky, right?

Free will remains a concept that certain individuals fully endorse when they create their own life paths. According to some people our paths were determined by fate while to others we play out roles which exist in advance in the grand scheme of life. But which one is true? People either believe they form their own future or they believe they helplessly walk toward a predetermined path.

The Butterfly Effect: Are You Really in Charge?

One tiny event produces huge consequences along the time course according to the butterfly effect theory. One single morning you miss your scheduled bus. The extended period of waiting results in your arrival at work after the designated time. The missed lunch timing becomes the consequence of that situation. Without taking that innocent action to miss your bus you would have met someone who could be your best friend and professional partner or life partner.

The sequence of random events seems too coincidental until we consider that all the situations could be linked to the same purpose. The mysterious timing of your missing the bus may have played a role in the unfolding of your life’s destiny. Time reveals your life as one continuous stream of multiple modest events that lead to an unavoidable destiny.

Science Has Something to Say About This

Science particularly physics comes into the discussion now. According to certain physicists our ability to predict the future would be possible by collecting the totality of atomic positions and forces that exist within the universe. According to determinism all our decisions become inevitable parts of a predetermined sequence. Such results occur naturally from the sequence of past occurrences.

Quantum mechanics introduces unpredictable influences as its main principle. Scientific research leads us to discover randomness occurs at the microscopic level. The unpredictability detected in the universe leads to potential free will choices for human beings. We might be part of a non-obvious system of influences which controls our behavior although we observe randomness in our choices.

What About Destiny and Spirituality?

According to different cultures and religions fate determines what events will happen naturally. The plotlines of several tales show characters enduring impossible survival scenarios or finding themselves exactly where they need to be when destiny calls. Coincidence? Or destiny at work?

The belief system includes cosmic force interactions called astrology where people use numerology to interpret events.

So, Is the Future Decided?

Our fundamental question remains unsolvable because it could be both factors playing a role at once. The universe may choose what unfolds before us while we stay in control of different aspects of life. Our personal choices might seem freely made to us yet they could be leading us precisely along the journey fate intended for us.

All indications point to the fact that future mysteries will continue to perplex us permanently. Our fate might have been determined in this manner by destiny.