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WHO IS IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE?
Posted by thefiveelements • 4/30/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: Belief, humanity, philosophy, religion, scripture, Spirituality, truth
Based on the experiences of reality, it is clear that there is a force that manifests in life that is far more capable than one’s own free will.
If you had full control of your life, you would not make a decision and then face disappointment with the outcome. But it is obvious that we all have experienced disappointment based on the decisions we made. So: Who Is In Control Of Your Life?
User Comments
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You make your decisions based on all the information you have up until the moment you make them.
Nobody ever put enough money down on a winning bet. If you live your life regretting your decisions, you will never be happy.-
Good point. So, it is not about specifics and results, but about happiness. -
That's hardly the point. It's not about whether you should be disappointed or not; the fact that we have the CAPACITY for disappointment shows that we are incapable of completely controlling our own lives, given that with the ability of total self-control (like having complete information about things), we would act in our best interests. -
I agree. Its not so much anyone has direct control over you, its just influences and your reaction to them. This 'force' mentioned that is far more capable than one’s own free will is likely just the restrictions of our own outlook. Physics, other people and chance all play their part too so apart from the control people might have over us to satisfy our basic needs (staying alive primarily) I don't really think anyone is controlling us. Therefore I would disagree with the assumptions made in the question you raised I'm afraid.
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at times by anger, at times by concern, at times by joy..basically am driven by emotions -
Well until I was an adult it was my parents, and in adult life ME. Sometimes there are things that happen that I have no control over but how I react to them I do have control over. Have I made disappointing decisions? Yes, and I viewed them as strengthening and learning opportunities. There is value in how one learns from disappointments in life.-
simply put & well said .. -
totally agree with you
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Here in the Amerikan corpocracy, largely "the man." If I don't slave for my pay, I don't have a home & food. -
I think the three Fates are in control of my life. -
The Man -
The baby Jeebus and my sex crimes counsellor. -
I would like to think it is me, my wife's opinion differs greatly. -
Free will may be just an illusionary concept because how can you even produce true randomness
random.org/-
Hey! That is a random thought!
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No that's a scientific thought
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Boys, boys ... don't argue! It doesn't really matter what you think, all that REALLY matters is what is! -
'Free will may be just an illusionary concept because how can you even produce true randomness?' I know where you're coming from. If our thoughts can't be random, then how can we say that what we think or do is completely uncontrolled by any external stimulus or control?
But on the other hand, who's to say that free will involves complete randomness? Free will is acting by our own logic, and sometimes impulse. But how can those not be non-random as well? Just because we have to 1) act within the confines of the physical world and 2) are inevitably influenced by everything we see around us, it does not mean we are not exercising free will. Free will is not the absence of guiding stimulus, but the inability of the stimulus to coerce you to do something.
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Cthulhu, the destroyer of worlds. -
A bunch of highly quirky and destructible internal organs.-
LOL
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think 6 degrees of separation it isnt that we cant control our own thoughts and actions its that we cant control everyone else's -
I make all my own decisions, good or bad.
A bad decision is something you learn from, you should never be disappointed.
If you don’t learn from your mistakes you are doomed to repeat them.
Only you make the conscious decision to dwell on the bad.
You are in control, some people just don’t realize it LOL -
"If you had full control of your life, you would not make a decision and then face disappointment with the outcome."
I have to disagree with your point... Having full control over your life does not mean that everything goes your way. At least not to me, what it does mean is that you have control over choices presented to you. I've made several decisions that I knew would end badly .. But, "I" made them ... see where I'm going with this? -
Debts and wages since long:
“Slavery is likely to be abolished by the war power and all chattel slavery abolished. This I and my European friends are in favor of, for slavery is but the owning of labor and carries with it the care of the laborers, while the European plan, led on by England, is that capital shall control labor by controlling wages. The great debt that the capitalists will see to it is made out of the war, must be used as a means to control the volume of money. To accomplish this the bonds must be used as a banking basis. We are now waiting for the Secretary of the Treasury to make this recommendation to Congress. It will not do to allow the Greenback, as it is called, to circulate as money any length of time, as we cannot control that. But we can control the bonds and through them the bank issues.”
-- The Hazard Circular of 1862 -
The Gnomes! -
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"Humans have free will" ? That's a postulate, not a proof.
And that humans have or not free will is not related to God's proof anyhow since for catholics all your destiny is fixed whereas in protestantism you supposedly have free will. -
Are you posting this same thing on EVERY discussion now?
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No one. God could be, but He chooses to let us make our own decisions. We're clearly not, because we're influenced by external factors. No other person is, because we remain free to make decisions regardless of their actions. -
Your question is loaded with a false assumption. There is no force outside of myself that is involved in my decisions other than forces which may act upon me that I react to. In that regard there are many. Yet if I react to a force. That reaction is my own. Therefore I am in control of my life. I may however, give that control away to authority for example. Yet, the decision is still mine.-
So nothing can happen to you that you don't choose?
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@rodanies: "I am in control of my life".
That means you will choose when to die? -
one example of others controlling you: Nazis..
their reality was so powerful it swept hundreds of millions of unwilling participants into their reality..
those MORE POWERFUL at creating reality will control those with less control..
in spirtual terms it's called a "mock-up", like an architect's model - we all do it, through hope and imagination, yet others are better and have the wealth to implement their reality and sweep up millions of others into theirs, ie, U.S. corporations.. who also control our government, cause wars for oil and other materialist goals..
IF I could rise above the U.S. system, I sure would, but I've never been able to - not even to get enough wealth to move to Denmark, where people care for each other and not big business or greedy materialism..
poor people are usually trapped where they are born, unless they can get on a boat that allows free travel! nowdays, MOST countries will NOT let you in unless you have enough money that they'll let you in! in the 70's New Zealand required 10,000 to be deposited in their banks. just one example..
"Give us your wealthy and self-sufficient - all others go home"
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The Cooking Asshole! and I am not ashamed to admit it!-
you are too good to me Doll
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Cooking Asshole I love your recipes! Are you single? Please say yes!
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sorry...engaged w/ a 7 mo old
and I am quite the looker!
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ok well she is one lucky lady!
p.s. I am moving to Portland anyway. Do you have a spare room?-
the baby took it...but I appreciate the effort
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ok. I will ask Lisa's mom if Lisa can come with me. We can get an apartment so I can be closer to you and she can be closer to Scott!
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nice!
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The monkey inside my head.-
oh is it the same monkey inside MY head??? I understand!
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**monkey noises**
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ROFL!
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Damn! Why are all the good ones taken?-
At least Scott is not taken!
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Oh, he's still hung up on his wife! Her photo is on his cell wall even though I sent him mine!
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o that's just for show! YOUR picture is under his pillow!
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They're not allowed pillows on death row, but thanks for trying to cheer me up anyway!
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o well maybe under something else then?
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Doll is right, as usual, that picture is just for show.
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whoever signs my paycheck unfortunately -
I am in control of my life as compared to anybody else being in control of me. I decide how much money I want to make and make the decisions. Granted it doesn't always work out but usually profit more then expected. I feel like working so I do. I want to go and do this I do. I want to buy something I do. Only time I am not the one in control is dinner-my kids often win on what they want for dinner unless it is not a good dinner. -
My kids. -
Maybe none of us are in control of anything, and nothing larger than us is controlling us either.
Elitethinker mentioned true randomness earlier.
Can a human purposely achieve a truly random thought? Try to come up with a new color. It's impossible. Try to come up with a new animal without using any part of another animal. It's impossible.
What if everything we do and say is based on our previous actions and experiences? What if there is no free will, because we are all slaves to our memory?
What if every choice you make, is not a choice rather, but the path you are destined to take because you are basing that choice on your past experiences?
A child cannot say the word mommy if he has never heard it. He or she could only say it by chance, and in that instance, the word would have no meaning.
Maybe everything that is truly new and random, is accidental.
Maybe we are robots.-
Round and round we go in the maze of language. Living is the only way out.
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How do you know that it is not possible to come up with a new colour? How do I know that what you perceive as green I may see as red?
It is not the randomness but the absoluteness we have to question. -
Sure, it is possible that what you describe as red and I describe as red, looks different to me than it does to you, but that isn't the point. The point is that you can't come up with a new colour because our minds are incapable of a completely original thought. Just face it. We can not come up with something original on purpose. Our minds are too feeble. We can only draw from what we know.
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uh oh that doesn't leave most of us with much scope then!
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Nope, some may think they are being original, but only more obscure, not truly original.
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Why does it always have to be a 'Who' is in control? -
Reasonably, you would have to say, you are responsible for what you experience and see. If that is not so, then there is no love and no single power in the universe.
However, to say that one has control over the world in which one finds himself, is another thing:
"The world you perceive is a world of separation. Perhaps you are willing to accept even death to deny your Father. Yet He would not have it so, and so it is not so. You still cannot will against Him, and that is why you have no control over the world you made. It is not a world of will because it is governed by the desire to be unlike God, and this desire is not will. The world you made is therefore totally chaotic, governed by arbitrary and senseless 'laws', and without meaning of any kind. For it is made out of what you do not want, projected from your mind because you are afraid of it. Yet this world is only in the mind of its maker, along with his real salvation. Do not believe it is outside of yourself, for only by recognizing where it is will you gain control over it. For you do have control over your mind, since the mind is the mechanism of decision." (A Course In Miracles, Chapter 12) -
The number variables that effectively control every moment of my life are astronomical high. Thus being far to much to calculate. But if I had to state five generally controlling factors of my life they would be as fallows:
1 -The Four forces: Gravity, Electromagnetism, strong and weak Nuclear forces. Every part of our universe is held together by these forces.
2 -All the laws of Physics. My life is bound by the laws of physics. They control every aspect of my life.
3 -Human pattern recognition. 80% of the human brain's processing power is devoted to pattern recognition. This is a major part of what makes humans an intelligent species. All of my plan making and second by second predictions are a product of pattern recognition.
4 -Genetics. My genetics give me the body I have, the brain I use, and may be a major factor in my health, physical perception of the world, and even character.
5 - Weather/Climate. The climate I live in has a lot to do with the life I lead and thus has a great deal of control over me.
(these were not in any specific order) -
Maybe it is the idea of control. Would be a sad thing. The problem is, it's not a true idea. No one can control life.
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There must be good reasons why we (humans) like to feel in control of our own lives even though what happens to us is strongly influenced by factors that are not subject to conscious control. I suspect the desire to feel in control of our own lives has evolved so that we can take responsibility for our actions. That would also explain why we feel disappointment if the outcomes of our decisions are not as good as we expected and why we feel elated when outcomes turn out better than expected.-
To me the desire to control is simply an expression of fear, that touches the core of our identity as humans. Besides, being in control would not do much good, for no one really knows what he wants and what is in his best interest.
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Fear is probably a part of the story. People fear getting into a situation where nothing they do has any effect on what happens to them e.g. where they become totally dependent on others.
The claim that no-one really knows what they want is odd. Just about everyone knows that they need food, shelter, companionship, etc. etc. People who feel in control of their lives would tend to have these basic things even if they do have problems in deciding things like whether they want a more expensive house or more leisure.
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"If I were someone who led himself I would not take the path that leads to death."
Antonio Porchia-
Being here, one has to see and know what death is, in order to choose something else. The quote is great, because it implies an idea that there is a path that does not lead to death.
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Take another path.
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I am in control of my own life, just like you are in control of yours. Now some people have a real hard time taking responsibility for their actions and try to claim they aren't in control but they are.-
I agree that people need to take responsibility for their actions. The world would be a very nasty place if people who get pleasure from harming others could claim that they should not be punished because they are not in control of their actions.
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Human could be modeled by 2 parameters: FEAR and GREED.
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My girl, but many decision is mine -
When you ask, "Am I control of my life?" The answer is NO.
When you "believe" you are control of your life, the answer is YES.
It's always up to you to decide... -
My mum. -
I am in control of my actions, but not what happens to me. I can control what I do, but not the outcome. I can stand up and walk if I choose to; but I can't prevent some crippling disease or accident from preventing me doing so.
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Your wife.
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WORDS ARE JUST LOUD THOUGHTS. THOUGHTS REQUIRE THINKING. THINKING PROMOTES REASON. REASON IS AN ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY OUR EXISTANCE. THERE IS NO REASON. REASON IS SUPPOSITION, ARBITRARY AND FLAWED. IT IS RELATED TO THE CONSTANT OF CHANGE AND TO THE TRICKERY OF THOUGHT.
GIVE NO THOUGHT TO LIFE. LIFE IS AN ABSURD, MEANINGLESS FOLLY, RIDICULOUSLY PLAYED OUT ON A STAGE “SIGNIFYING NOTHING”……. LAUGHABLE BECAUSE OF THE STRUGGLE AND SERIOUSNESS GIVEN TO IT BY HUMANS WHO ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT RATIONAL.
THE TRUE ENITY THAT I AM NEEDS NO RATIONALIZATION. IF I AM ONLY BECAUSE I THINK I AM THEN TO TRY TO RATIONALIZE THE REASON THAT I AM BECOMES UNREASONABLE. I CAN ADOPT A PHILOSOPHY IN AN ATTEMPT TO PLACATE MY MIND INTO THINKING IT HAS MADE SENSE OF NON-SENSE OR ADOPT A CAUSE TO JUSTIFY MY THIRD DIMENSIONAL PRESENCE BUT THESE ARE ONLY FUTILE ATTEMPTS TO COVER THE EMOTIONS OF ANXIETY, DREAD AND MEANINGLESSNESS.
THE TRUE ME, THE I AM, IS NOT OF THIS WORLD. THIS IS NOT ITS TRUE HOME. AND THE MINDS DISHONEST QUEST TO CONVIENCE IT OF SUCH ONLY CONFUSES ‘REALITY’. TO BE WHO I TRULY AM DOES NOT REQUIRE IDENTIFICATION. THE I AM NEEDS NO OBJECT---NO JUSTIFICATION. THE REAL ME IS NOT RICHARD LYNN AN ARTIST AND WRITER.
IF I THINK I AM THEN I DOUBT THAT I AM. MY TRUE IDENITY NEEDS NO THOUGHT, NO NAME ,NO RATIONALIZATION. IT IS…OR IT IS NOT……OR IT IS INBETWEEN. ALL THREE ARE THE SAME AND MY THINKING DOES NOT AFFECT IT.
WHEN I COME TO MY SENSES, THERE IS NO NEED FOR COMPARISON OR JUDGEMENT. I CAN SEE, TOUCH, SMELL, HEAR AND FEEL WITHOUT THOUGHT. I AM WITHOUT THOUGHT. I AM IN SPITE OF MY THOUGHTS. YES, I DO HAVE A CHOICE TO THINK OR NOT THINK BUT NOT TO BE OR NOT TO BE. TO BE I AM REQUIRES NO CHOICE. CHOICE IS FOLLY.
YES, WE ARE ABSURD….DESERVING RIDICULE….LAUGHABLE. CREATING REASON WHEN THERE IS NONE…..BUT LIFE IS ONLY A GAME…THE ONLY GAME, ONE PLAYED ON SEVERAL LEVELS…..AGAIN AND AGAIN. NO GOAL, NO END….ONLY THE JOURNEY. MAKE OF IT WHAT YOU WILL. WORDS ARE ONLY LOUD THOUGHTS AND TODAY I THINK THESE THOUGHTS AGAIN ONLY TO JUSTIFY MY EXISTENCE AS IT IS SO DIFFICULT FOR ME TO JUST BE! MY MIND WANTS ME TO BE DISSATISFYED WITH WHO I AM! THIS WHOLE DESSERTATION IS MEANGINGLESS AND AS LONG AS I THINK IT,IT WILL BE.
ALTHOUGH MY PRIMARY GOAL IS TO JUST BE, IT IS STILL BEING THOUGHT ABOUT AND NOT COMPLETELY ACCEPTED .I KNOW THAT I AM. I KNOW THAT I AM ONE WITH EVERYTHING AND THIS EVERYTHING, THIS LIFE FORCE, IS ALL THAT THERE IS AND NEEDS NO JUSTIFICATION… NO THOUGHT. I WILL CONTINUE TO BECOME TRUELY CONSCIOUS OF MY UNION WITH, MY ONENESS WITH AND BE CONTENT WITH BEING ME.
ARE WE BUT COMPUTERIZED RECEIVERS WITH CHOICE MECHINISM…SO AS LONG AS WE ARE IN THIS DIMENSION..BELIEVE SOMETHING,..ENGAGE TIME AND CONTROL ANGST.-
- @Richardlynn
I did not read what you posted and I want to tell you why that is. I'm thinking that you must be really new to cyberspace because you are typing in all capital letters. Well, in cyberspace typing in all capital letters is considered to be rude and annoying, as well as being hard to read. In fact typing in all capital letters in cyberspace is considered to be the equivalent of SHOUTING! into someone else's face, and that's why it's called SHOUTING!
Please click the "caps lock" key on your keyboard and turn it off.
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Gravity.............I m still stickin out on the earth. I believe I can fly...... -
Myself, although nature and chance always play their part. -
Nobody controls me, I control everything. I am in control of cooking, washing the dishes, shopping, bringing the dirty clothes to the loundry, mowing the lawn, bringing the kids to school, washing the cars, fixing the sink, beating the rug, cleaning the roof etc.-
that makes us two...
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Death and taxes, inc.
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I took control of my life when I got aware of our world creation. I am going to live forever. =)
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You would probably face more disappointments, because you would become more fully responsible for your own mistakes and failures. There would be no excuses focused on an outside entity.
Even if you were in full control, you would not be controlling other peoples lives. A great degree of control over your own thought processes is perfectly possible. Being able to examine how you are thinking on a consistent basis is a first step.
Why do you assume that everything is controlled all the time, quite a bit of life is random and uncontrolled, many people go through life only thinking in the short term. People are only in control part of the time. Much of the actions which occur around you are unconscious. -
I want it to be me but it is my kids, my hubby then all the farm animals and responsibilities that that requires. -
My fiance -
I thought it was me this whole time, but you raise a good question... I wonder, who really is in control...? *chin scratch* -
I like to think that I am. Me first, but others are second. I'm in the process of dropping out of the rat race. I mean travel the world, go where I please and hopefully take soul mate with me. My Career has allowed me to travel, taste, smell, feel life in different parts of the World. I want to give something back. Through my Photography or whatever. Giving love unconditional....I know I can-
ckuhn55. I love what you just said. Go for it! Sounds like you've have a great life behind you and a beautiful one ahead. Good luck!
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Everyone is responsible for their own thoughts.
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When slavery was outlawed, there was a need to create wage slaves. When they got too expensive, the work was shipped to countries with cheap labor. (Unless you're a politician and then you higher an illegal immigrant and then don't report it.) You're controlled in ways you have never even dreamed. The founding fathers warned us of the dangers of believing you are free when you are not. -
have you found the political board?
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Yeah, bring back slavery. At least then I'm not in control of my own life and I can blame someone else for my problems.
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I control my life, if I make a bad decision... I am the one who takes complete responsibility for what I do. -
My ex via child support payments
My government via taxes
My landlord via Rent
My body via food -
Who said: No appointments, no disappointments? -
In my life I am the only boss...of her..:)
Have agreat week-end people! Nice to meet U!
www.Dyeve.Blogspot.Com -
who controls my life.....
well no ONE does,but GOD kinda keeps me outta trouble.... but I do tend to fall off the path sometimes... -
No one controls my life. It takes care of itself.
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the first control is the god.. and the second control is self
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