Is our life unconsciously determined?
This question was brought up to me some time ago. Like many, my first reaction was to think about whether my existence was written in advance, and if the best I could hope for was to discover the unconscious patterns that were carved in stone. On the other side some might argue that there is no such thing as predetermined life and that we are the masters of our own destiny. Well, my position lies somewhere in between.
In a recent article, I mentioned a 23-year study that was carried out on 1,000 New Zealand children. The study revealed that a child’s observed personality at the age of 3 shows significant resemblance to his or her personality traits at the age of 26. So, my question is the following: How could a talent (talents being part of our personality) have developed at such a young age?
The answer to the above-mentioned question lies in the fact that we are potentially born with a set of talents, and that we cultivate them with time. Does that imply that we cannot change? Not necessarily. It all depends on one’s ability, and moreover willingness, to change. Carl Jung said that until we make the unconscious conscious, it will direct our life and we shall call it fate. Change, therefore, starts when we discover what we are made of. Once we are aware of our past conditioning, our free will comes into play. We can deliberately decide to drive our attention in another direction, or not.
What are your thoughts on the subject?
Be kind to yourself…
About the coach
My perspective is built on a more positive view of human nature. I see individuals as driven to reach their potential. There is nothing wrong with wanting to fix one’s weaknesses, and in fact it should be the ultimate goal of our lives. But I believe that this is not where personal development should start.