In the face of unfolding destiny,

we hold the future in our hands.

It can be very difficult to decide what to do when so much of what we encounter in life is grey and so little is black and white. 

When faced with myriad choices, and none seem to clearly be the right one, we need to remind ourselves that we will end up doing what is destined to happen. And because of this, we may think that we do not have an active choice in the outcome. Unpleasantness? Merriment? It was destined to happen!

We are wrong. The part we play in the current unfolding destiny will go towards creating our own future destiny and is thus vitally important.

For instance, (1) did I hurt the person because I gave in to my anger and didn’t care what I said, and so the event unfolded as destined? 

Or, (2) no matter how much I cared and tried to act wisely, my efforts failed. The event unfolded as destined: I hurt the person. 

If I do the first, I’m walking the path of more suffering. If I do the second, I am on the path of reducing my future suffering.

“There is nothing either good or bad . . .

You don’t surrender 

control of your body to others.

More importantly, don’t surrender 

control of your mind to others.

We strongly adhere to the former, so why do we so often allow the latter? 

When driving and someone cuts in front of us, we blurt out an emphatic “Idiot!” Reading comments on social media that we disagree with, we write our own insensitive reply. Upon seeing an ad for the latest smartphone, our longing arises and the phone in our hand suddenly seems in urgent need of replacement. 

Why do we so readily give in to all the people and situations around us that dictate how we think and feel?

Blindly following what others tell us to do is a big danger point. It could lead us to disaster. But we seem to ignore this, the potential harm that can come from others dictating our thoughts and feelings.

Just as we would guard against those who wish us physical harm, we need to guard against things and messages and people who seek to control our thoughts.