Q Do you believe in destiny?

A Do I believe in destiny? Yes! Do I believe you can design your own destiny? Emphatically yes! The Collins dictionary describes destiny as "the future determined for a person or thing". What is missing from this meaning is the "who". Who determines the future? The challenge I have with people who are convinced that destiny alone will determine their outcome is that they could well be abdicating any responsibility for their future.

They are handing over all, or part, of their lives to some higher power. The belief that your future is already mapped out for you could rob you of any incentive or initiative to live up to your full potential.

With this outlook we might as well look at life as a conveyor belt that we simply step on to at the start and step off at the end, at our pre-determined destination. Our journey might be safe, it might be secure and undemanding. But there will be little room for personal creativity.

On the other hand we might be in a situation which gives us little or no pleasure at all. If our belief is that "there is no point trying" because this is what was "meant to be" then I see that as a tragedy.

You can look at your life in two ways. That your destiny is something that happens to you. Or that it is something that you can personally create. For me there is no choice. Use the power you have to determine your own destiny and design your own future. Live by design and not by default.

Updated: 10:04 Monday, May 27, 2002