Constantly torn between “if it’s meant to be, it will be” and “if you want it, go and get it.” Basically, this is a question of accepting what is and exerting personal will. When do I accept and allow, and when do I intend and create? When do I know when to let things go? – Anita from Los Angeles

The question really addresses the issue between free will and fate, and how the two interact. Nothing is written in stone regarding your future. There is always room to exercise your free will. This is not the issue. The issue is knowing when to exert your free will against the circumstances that confront you that are not in alignment with what you desire. The real question is: Is what you desire in alignment with the circumstances around you? Do you use force to try to enforce your will? Or do you flow and adapt to the circumstances?

This is an issue of force versus inner power and inner knowingness. Force is when you are trying to superimpose your idea on your circumstances; versus inner power is when you truly understand the circumstances and see where your desire and/or will is in alignment with it or is in opposition to it. If your will is in alignment with the circumstances then things will flow easily. If your will is not in alignment with the circumstances, then there will be struggle, opposition and suffering. When it is in alignment, it doesn’t mean that your will cannot change the circumstances. It can change and influence the circumstances and yet it is in alignment with the circumstances. For instance, if the river is flowing downwards and you are in a boat, you can still stir the rudder to guide it. However, if the river is flowing downwards and you are trying to go upwards against the flow, then no matter how much you try to will it, the flow of circumstances will wash you back down to the shore. This is an example of not reading the circumstances and trying to use force versus inner power to get what you want. If you have inner power, you will realize that it is fruitless to totally crash against the flow of the tide. However, when you learn to go in the same direction, you will be able to surf the wave and maneuver effectively and still attain what you want. So ultimately, it is using inner power which is defined as having your will in alignment and in harmony with your circumstances.

© Robert K. Wu