Is “Everything that’s meant to happen, will happen” true?

“Everything that’s meant to happen, will happen” are some of the most true words ever spoken.

It’s also useless advice.

It strips away agency and invites people to passively continue performing the same thing over and over without a second thought.

Internalizing this saying is to resist change.

Like it or not, you decide your future.

Your will and your actions determine what happens in your life.

After all, people tend to disregard the past — mistakes and victories alike — but I think those should have added weight.

THOSE are the things that happened for a reason, whether you like it or not.

Because yes, everything does happen for a reason, but not always for the better.

The “reason” can be good or bad — your actions after the fact are what determine which it is.

Your past does not define you, but you made those decisions and now you have to live with the consequences, good or bad.

But here’s the good news: there’s always a next best move.

Look for the best available move, and keep doing that until you arrive at a place where you can take a broader look at things.

The past is already written.

Try to examine what happened and why so you can plan for a future you want.

But most importantly: don’t be afraid to take a beating.

Life hands them out in spades. Sometimes they’re physical and other times they are emotional or financial, but rest assured you will get your fair share of all of them before your time is done.

So instead of avoiding them, expect them. Be ready for them so that you can get right back up and carry on with your life.

When you expect adversity, heartbreak, or bankruptcy, it becomes abundantly clear to you what is important to you and what is not.

People or problems that seem important suddenly gain the right proportion and you’re able to focus on the handful of things that you would want to keep with you even if it were the end of the world.

So yes, “everything that is meant to happen, will happen”. That is inevitable, but you have much more control of what will happen than that saying leads you to believe.

In a world where we control so little, you must hold onto the few things you do have dominion over for dear life.

You deserve it.