Evolving Philosophical Journal 4: What is my destiny?

What is my destiny?

            Some say that everything in the universe is connected and each of us has our predetermined place in the cosmos. Like in the movie The Lion King, every animal plays a role in the circle of life, and everything exists in a delicate balance. Each of us must keep that role, that no matter how hard we turn our backs on certain events if destiny entails us to it, it will happen. There is no workaround in destiny, it is set in stone, waiting to unravel before our eyes. But is it so? Do I just yield to it because it sounds easy, or should I fight it off and create my own?

In the previous journal, I said that I am a singular, unique being that is constantly evolving to be the best version of my previous self. I think it is important to have this recollection as finding out what my destiny falls somewhere along with the “knowing myself” stage. I believe that destiny is the result of the choices we make, and it is up to us to determine our place in the universe. We are all destined to die but we all should make living worthwhile. Before the final chapter of life closes in on me, I must write my own destiny. I will say my destiny should be the culmination of my best life.

It is hard to relate the readings On Transience by Freud and The Religious Nature by Nietzsche to the guiding question of the 4^th Journal. But I would like to take some parts that I feel speak about life and destiny. Freud wrote about the transience of human life, death, and mourning. His friend, while visiting him failed to enjoy the beauty of the things around him as he knew that it will just perish. But according to Freud, “[t]ransience value is scarcity value in time. Limitation in the possibility of an enjoyment, raises the value of enjoyment” (pg 288). We are all destined to die and knowing full well our mortality should not affect how we live our lives. Life is precious because it is short that is why every second counts. After all, we do not have all the time in the world. Life may be lost but how we live our lives forging our destiny is what makes it valuable.

In his book Beyond Good and Evil, on part three pages 84-85, Nietzsche points out how religion and some artists falsified the image of life. These artists seem happy spoiling the meaning of life making it “otherworldly and divine”. He said that “men are superficial, our preservation instinct teaches us to be fickle, light, and false”. He further said that our religious view of existence and our view of “life in God” or piety is the ultimate form of the “fear of truth”.  Nietzsche views Christianity as a cage forbidding us to be who or what we are. Christianity makes us suppress or sacrifice our true self, to the point of self-denial, “sacrifice of freedom and pride”. He also said that as people bow down to the saint, it is in fact the “will to power” they bowed down to. Nietzsche ends the chapter by saying religion has preserved “everything sick and suffering”, “they reversed the love of the earthly and dominion over the earth” resulting in the people of Europe becoming just “herd animals” “sickly and mediocre” pg 88-89. The “will to power” translates differently in everyone else’s mind. If they will their lives to follow what religion guides them, then so be it. Relating that to the question about my destiny. In some sense, I agree with Nietzsche to live for the present, be grateful for life, and to live with the “will to power”. Nietzsche wants me to live following who or what I am. I am not just a blind follower of fate or destiny; I will have to create my own with my “will to power”. If I will as far as to claim that my destiny is to live a good life, I will work on it, and I should not let anyone tell me otherwise. Nietzsche said, “the kind of man who stands thus before nature and before life is a very noble one!”. pg 78. I would like to think that creating my own destiny is a noble act.

Reference: https://bb-gbc.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-6731190-dt-content-rid-91592726_1/xid-91592726_1