Is Your Life Determined by Fate?

I recall an old song with the lyrics, "Thirty percent is fate, seventy percent is hard work." However, after exploring the concept of fate, I came to see this saying as a significant misconception. In my view, personal fortune actually governs sixty percent of our life's outcomes, while ancestral virtues, including feng shui and names, account for about ten percent. Personal effort and self-improvement make up the remaining thirty percent. Thus, a more accurate perspective is that seventy percent is determined by fate, and thirty percent by hard work.

While this may sound disheartening to those striving for success, as if destiny leaves us helpless, the truth is that a life of poverty struggles to compete with one of wealth. Some people might experience only a decade of prosperity in their lives, whereas others may enjoy many decades. Can you compete with that?

Fate is not an absolute force; this is a common misunderstanding. Although the role of fate is inherent and beyond our control, it does not mean that fate rigidly dictates when someone will face ruin or death. There's an old saying that "Heaven does not close off all paths for a person; only people can close off their own paths." Therefore, while fate can influence life’s ups and downs, individuals facing adversity can strive to mitigate these challenges.

Many online users often inquire about the limits of life and death, seemingly believing these limits are predestined. Let me share a few real-life examples for clarity. Three years ago, a male user asked me for a fortune reading. When I saw his photo, he appeared dazed, with a dark complexion and a tightly furrowed brow. His eyes looked murky, almost lifeless. I candidly told him, "No need to ask about anything else; prioritize your health immediately. A serious illness is looming, and within six months, while you may not die, you'll lose half your vitality." He wanted to know about his career, finances, and relationships, but I told him those concerns were trivial. At the time, he didn’t believe me, so I explained that murky eyes suggest excessive desires. When desires overwhelm the fate palace, it signifies heavy burdens. From my study of fate, I concluded that illnesses arise from either overeating or overthinking. This man was just beginning to face trouble; more crucially, he had blood stagnation and a dwindling spirit, which in physiognomy indicates someone near death. Modern medicine confirmed he was on the brink of a severe illness.

This person left, skeptical. About six months later, he contacted me, revealing he had been diagnosed with late-stage kidney cancer. I asked if he had taken care of his health, and he admitted he hadn't, since he felt fine and doubted his illness, let alone its severity. This point is vital; most people falter due to this unreliable yet misleading self-perception. He couldn't relinquish his desires and continued to indulge in food and drink. Once diagnosed terminally ill, he had to confront reality, but it was too late. A family doctor explained that if he had quit smoking and drinking six months earlier, avoided late nights, and practiced just half an hour of moxibustion daily, he could have managed his condition, and after two years of treatment, potentially eliminated it.

Thus, fate doesn’t equate to certain death; problems can be resolved with simple, straightforward methods. However, most people are accustomed to pursuing pleasure, believing life exists for enjoyment alone, which prematurely exhausts their blessings and leads them to the brink of death at a young age.

Another friend learned a year in advance about potential health issues from excessive drinking, specifically liver problems. I repeatedly advised him to exercise more, use traditional Chinese medicine, and cut down on social drinking, focusing instead on a lighter diet. Eventually, he developed liver cancer and insisted on radiation and chemotherapy, believing these were the best scientific options, ultimately seeking his own downfall.

Disease results from accumulation over time. I've seen many suffer from chronic conditions in later years, typically due to poor habits and excessive desires in their youth. Driven by desires, they wear themselves out in a relentless pursuit of comparison, leading to lifelong health issues while chasing wealth like a hungry ghost.

Some might argue that illness is also a matter of fate. Indeed, fate can indicate whether a person might fall ill, what type of illness they could face, or if they’ll experience financial loss or failure—these are all aspects of fate. However, the extent of these outcomes is entirely within our control. By understanding fate and actively working to manage oneself, illnesses won’t be severe, financial losses won’t be disastrous, and failures won’t lead to excess despair, leaving room for renewed hope.