My mom often says, “things happen for a reason”. Interestingly enough, she normally uses this phrase in the context of unpleasant events such as sickness, breakups, and failures. I completely disagree with her on this point, because, let’s face it: the notion that “things happen for a reason” is a comforting but misguided belief. It’s an attempt to find meaning in the chaos of life, to make sense of the seemingly random events that shape our existence. Unfortunately, life is not a carefully orchestrated play where every twist and turn serves a higher purpose.
Take a moment to think about it: when you smoke, you’re not inviting lung cancer into your life as part of some grand plan; you’re simply increasing the odds of a deadly disease. Speeding on the highway doesn’t lead to a traffic ticket because the universe is trying to teach you a lesson; it’s a consequence of breaking the law. And that job you took because of a higher salary, that leaves you feeling unfulfilled and miserable? That’s not fate’s way of nudging you in a different direction; it’s the outcome of your own decisions.
Sure, there might be moments when it feels like the universe is conspiring against you, when everything seems to go wrong all at once. But attributing these challenges to some mysterious cosmic plan is a dangerous shortcut, as it absolves you of responsibility for your actions and undermines your ability to shape your destiny.
So let’s ditch the comforting illusions and embrace the harsh truth: things don’t happen “for a reason” – they happen because of the choices you make, the actions you take, and the consequences that follow. And once you accept that reality, you can start taking ownership of your life, making better decisions, and creating your own reasons for why things happen.
