the rehearsal space

Fate vs. Choice

Take a look around you.

What do you see?

Who is around?

What are your experiences?

Is this what you imagined your life would look like now, or ever? Whether or not it is, do you believe your life was destined to be this way? Or, do you believe all of your choices have led you to this point? Do you believe that you are in complete control? Maybe a mixture of both?

I believe life is like a choose your own adventure book in that there are several ways to get to the same ending. In life we all know how the story ends. This seems grim on it’s face, but the ending isn’t the point of choosing your own adventure books. It’s not even the most fun part. Choosing the direction of the story and following those choices to the outcome…that’s what makes these types of stories fun.

What if life is like that?

In the 1999 film The Matrix, Neo is offered a choice. Morpheus offers him the truth and freedom from the matrix. He lets Neo know that if he chooses truth there is no returning to ignorance. Making a decision tends to debilitate a lot of us, but Neo makes one relatively quickly.

Neo’s transition isn’t easy or painless and, like most drastic changes, it comes with doubt and disbelief. For some time after he leaves the matrix he still believes that what he is experiencing is a dream. Once the realization that it isn’t sets in, he still has a hard time believing he has any type of power in the matrix or any of the simulations. Of course he did. Up until he is offered the choice, he was taught that he was powerless. That there were rules and things that just weren’t possible.

Morpheus tells Neo about his belief that Neo will eventually be able to fully control the program. Of course Neo doubts this, too. This is mainly because he has spent his whole life living within the confines of what has been taught to him. When he goes to the oracle, she only confirms what he already believes; that he isn’t the one. But why does she do this?

I believe she did this because she knew that her opinion wouldn’t matter. He had to fully believe in his ability. For this to happen he had to be pushed into a challenging situation. The oracle told him that he would have to make a choice between his life and Morpheus’. But that was something he was willing to do and something he actually believed that he was capable of. It was in this challenge that he accomplished feats he previously believed were impossible. It was also in this challenge that he found the strength and power in himself to break free from the mental confinement of his mind. To free himself from the Matrix.

This is why I believe that the most important beliefs are the ones we hold true for ourselves. We often look for validation from others. But not validation in the opposite of our beliefs, only in the confirmation of them.

If our life is a choose your own adventure, and you know how the story ends, then what choices are you making that lead to you having the experiences you want?

Morpheus tells Neo that the oracle told him what he needed to hear. Why was it what he needed to hear and not the truth? Because once we believe something so wholeheartedly, nothing anyone else says (even an authority figure) can change our minds. We either become aware of our beliefs/thoughts and command them consciously, or we allow them to control us unconsciously. This is the difference between choice and fate in my opinion:

A person who believes in choice decides on purpose what they want and what they will believe, and they let that guide them in how they move. They direct their focus.

A person who believes in fate believes someone or something outside of them is directing everything.

Reflection

What’s your next step?

I look forward to getting to know what your personal beliefs on this topic are, and your reasons for your beliefs.

’til next time friends,

Zelda