Fate vs. Destiny

Do you believe in fate or destiny?

I was asked this question recently, and it made me think. What is the difference? Don't they mean practically the same thing? Can't you believe both at the same time?

Fate:
a. The supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events.
b. The inevitable events predestined by this force.
c. A final result or consequence; an outcome.
d. Unfavorable destiny; doom.

Destiny:
a. The inevitable or necessary fate to which a particular person or thing is destined; one's lot.
b. A predetermined course of events considered as something beyond human power or control.
c. The power or agency thought to predetermine events.

Destiny and fate, by dictionary, are not much different. But what they mean to most people are two separate things completely.

Destiny is what we want to achieve in our life. It is our purpose on the earth - that when we're at the end of our life, we want to look back and be happy with it. Fate is the nudge in the right direction. It's something that comes from whatever higher power you believe in, something showing us where to go.

"Destiny is something we choose to go after.... Fate is something that happens to us, and seemingly takes away our choices, but in fact actually leads us back towards the choice of Destiny we already made before we were born." (http://www.orderofthewhitelion.com/karma@/fate.destiny.html)

Fate and Destiny have a big part in love, as well.

When you're looking for love, fate brings you together with people. You have to determine whether it's the right person or not. And even if it's not, it's important that you experience that time with them and learn your lessons and experiences from them, because it will help you in the long run. Every person you're with in your lifetime helps you to become that person that you will be in the future -- and every step in the right direction brings you closer to that one person that you'll spend forever with.

If your destiny is to be with someone that is genuinely perfect for you, then fate will bring you together with that person, and your destiny will be fulfilled.

"People often meet their destiny on the road they take to avoid it" - French Proverb

The hardest thing about fulfilling these things - going through the steps to get to where you want to go - is just that. Sometimes the decisions you make will take you further away from where you want to go. Sometimes you won't make the right decisions.

But, what I believe is that everything happens for a reason, as I'm sure I've voiced many times in my blog, and that even if you make a stupid decision, or things don't go quite as you've wanted them to, things will all work out in the end. As long as you know where you want to go, and what you've got to do, a little bump in the road or a little scratch along the way never hurt anyone - that much!!

My piece of advice for the day: If you know exactly what you want your life to be, and you know what your destiny is - let fate take you on little side paths, and detours. Don't be afraid of making mistakes along the way, because it's all part of the plan. And let life take you along the journey that it is. Enjoy the ride. Don't let something small upset you. Don't waste your worry.

Live, laugh, and love.