Often discussions of Destiny or Fate try to incorporate mutually exclusive meanings of the words: Predestination and Free Will. People want to believe that we are exercising the ability to make choices between options (Free Will) but events and outcomes are beyond our control (Predestination).
Maybe Destiny should be understood differently, as the reasonable consequences of choices we make. The ends aren't predetermined but certainly are predictable. If I choose to spend more time playing Jewel Quest instead of doing assigned reading for class it is predictable that my test grades will be poor…but not necessarily assured depending on the subject and testing methods.
In the words of the self-help guru Stephen Covey: "Begin with the end in mind." Therefore, if I make choices that can be reasonably expected to lead to that end my destiny cannot help but lead there. For instance, choosing to join and participate in a professional organization to meet people working in the profession and have opportunities to learn and demonstrate my abilities. A destiny can be steered towards becoming a paralegal.
Success cannot be an assured by making good choices, but failure will be a certain destiny by making poor choices. It's important to take to heart the advice of the Knight in INDIANA JONES & THE LAST CRUSADE: "Choose wisely."
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