We don't have total control over anything. Not even on our own life.
Whatever happens around us is a result of a vast number of coincidences. Any particular event only has a probability of happening thus, not certainty. No event is an outcome of any single variable. When some event takes place there are myriad variables that have fallen in some unique pattern that has caused the outcome. No other pattern of variables would have caused the same outcome. Out of an innumerable variables even if a single variable goes differently, the final outcome can be different. So just imagine, when your action is only one of the variables, how can you say that the outcome is in your control?
Let's say you are going for a job interview. Whether you will pass the interview or not depends actually on thousands of small and big variables. But let's pick a few notable ones.
The list can be enlarged ad infinitum. If we go on digging deeper and deeper, there's no limit to the number of factors which will play a role, however small, in determining the outcome of your interview. Because all of the above mentioned variables (and even those which are not mentioned) would in turn be orchestrated by other myriad variables, and so on and so forth.
You would want to get selected for the job. But for you to get selected all of the above (and other seemingly infinite) factors will have to fall in the right place. Meaning, they will have to be in the pattern which is just right for your selection. Only then you will make it. So, whether you will make it or not is not really in your control.
Likewise, when in life you attain something and feel that you did it, remember that it's a result of a vast number of variables falling into the right place, which can only be called a coincidence in true sense. Because we can never spot all the variables, let aside controlling them or knowing in advance how each of them is going to play out. Like Boris says in Whatever Works, the chance factor in life is mind-boggling. If you think about it.
Important. This is not to mean that because nothing is really in your control you should stop worrying and become careless about life. No. As I said above, any particular event has a probability of happening and not certainty. And the decisions you take can make a huge difference in the probability of an outcome.
Simple example: Go for the exam without having studied anything and you can be almost certain to have bad results. If you have studied well, the results are likely to be good. Simply observable fact it is. Doesn't even need to be proven! So yes, you have to always put in your best at everything.
But it's just to be kept in mind that ultimately whatever is happening can best be fathomed in true sense as coincidences. For all you know, even after you have studied well, there are always a great many factors such as traffic, illness, earthquake etc that can prevent you from writing the exam. And even after writing the exam there are factors which can affect the result in the ways unimaginable. You can never be 100% certain of anything in life.
That's the queerness of our existence. Got to deal with it. Hence, to paraphrase what's been said thousands of years ago in Gita –
Keep doing your deeds, but don't get busy worrying about the results.
Now that makes sense, eh?
Whatever happens around us is a result of a vast number of coincidences. Any particular event only has a probability of happening thus, not certainty. No event is an outcome of any single variable. When some event takes place there are myriad variables that have fallen in some unique pattern that has caused the outcome. No other pattern of variables would have caused the same outcome. Out of an innumerable variables even if a single variable goes differently, the final outcome can be different. So just imagine, when your action is only one of the variables, how can you say that the outcome is in your control?
Let's say you are going for a job interview. Whether you will pass the interview or not depends actually on thousands of small and big variables. But let's pick a few notable ones.
- Traffic will decide whether you reach on time for the interview.
- Number of candidates applying for the job. More the candidates lesser would be the chances of you getting selected.
- Skills and qualifications of the other candidates.
- Wavelength (mood, nature, knowledge-level etc) of the interviewer.
- Your salary expectation vis-à-vis the company's pay scale.
The list can be enlarged ad infinitum. If we go on digging deeper and deeper, there's no limit to the number of factors which will play a role, however small, in determining the outcome of your interview. Because all of the above mentioned variables (and even those which are not mentioned) would in turn be orchestrated by other myriad variables, and so on and so forth.
You would want to get selected for the job. But for you to get selected all of the above (and other seemingly infinite) factors will have to fall in the right place. Meaning, they will have to be in the pattern which is just right for your selection. Only then you will make it. So, whether you will make it or not is not really in your control.
Likewise, when in life you attain something and feel that you did it, remember that it's a result of a vast number of variables falling into the right place, which can only be called a coincidence in true sense. Because we can never spot all the variables, let aside controlling them or knowing in advance how each of them is going to play out. Like Boris says in Whatever Works, the chance factor in life is mind-boggling. If you think about it.
Important. This is not to mean that because nothing is really in your control you should stop worrying and become careless about life. No. As I said above, any particular event has a probability of happening and not certainty. And the decisions you take can make a huge difference in the probability of an outcome.
Simple example: Go for the exam without having studied anything and you can be almost certain to have bad results. If you have studied well, the results are likely to be good. Simply observable fact it is. Doesn't even need to be proven! So yes, you have to always put in your best at everything.
But it's just to be kept in mind that ultimately whatever is happening can best be fathomed in true sense as coincidences. For all you know, even after you have studied well, there are always a great many factors such as traffic, illness, earthquake etc that can prevent you from writing the exam. And even after writing the exam there are factors which can affect the result in the ways unimaginable. You can never be 100% certain of anything in life.
That's the queerness of our existence. Got to deal with it. Hence, to paraphrase what's been said thousands of years ago in Gita –
Keep doing your deeds, but don't get busy worrying about the results.
Now that makes sense, eh?
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