Do you believe you control your own destiny or do you think life is set in stone?

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I strongly believe in free will. Today's actions shape the future, and that way we crete our own destiny. Some people get luckier than others, while some people will try their entire lives and will not succeed. That's just the way life is, we have to pursue our dreams.

I believe in limited will because obviously, there are circumstances beyond an individual's control that can limit their ability to exercise free will. Free will implies a lack of restraint on someone's ability to act or think. Are we in control? Not absolutely, not likely. We have other peoples' wills to mingle and often contend with.

We are all dealt different hands and we are free to react however we want. However, our actions carry consequences that can sometimes lead to our own detriment and obstruct our "freedom." Often external forces like disasters can dissipate the power of our wills. Mental disorders or health problems can dampen our will. However, that does not mean we should give up and see obstacles as so monumental that we back down in defeat and become permanently crestfallen.

I also believe in God, and in church we talk about how he is ultimately in control. I believe in the power of will, but not in a constant, invulnerable free will. Basically, will does not always bring about what you want when you want it, especially if it stands in contradiction to another person's will. However, as history shows, numbers or even the amount of social, political, or economical power the opposition has does not guarantee your defeat. And even in the many defeats we have had in life, good can come of it. What may be a personal defeat, may just be a moment in a long road to victory.

We pave our own destinies.