Free Will: Are We Truly in Control of Our Choices?

What Is Free Will?

“Was that really my choice?”

It’s a question many of us ask when life doesn’t go as planned. Free will is the belief that we have the ability to choose our actions, words, and responses without being entirely determined by external forces or prior events. Some argue that Free-Will is an illusion, shaped by unconscious processes and external influences, while others believe it’s essential for moral responsibility and personal agency. Whether you decide to eat an apple instead of a cookie or change your career path, those decisions reflect your free will.

But here’s where it gets complicated: If everything happens for a reason, as spirituality and astrology often say, then how much control do we really have?

Is Free Will Real?

A Simple Breakdown

There are three ways people often look at life:

• Determinism – Everything is already written, like a movie script.
• Free Will – You write your script as you go, based on your thoughts and actions.
• Co-Creation – A blend of both. Life gives you a plot, but you choose how to play your role.

In modern spirituality and even in the Bhagavad Gita, this third version is often accepted. You are not entirely free from fate, but you are not a puppet either.

Real-Life Example: The Job Dilemma

Imagine two people lose their job.

• One panics, blames luck, and gives up.
• The other reflects, retrains, and lands a better role.

Both faced the same external event. But their internal choice, driven by free-will changed the outcome.

This is how free-will works. You may not choose what happens to you, but you can choose how you respond.

What Spiritual Texts Say

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna encourages Arjuna to act based on his own dharma (duty). He guides, but never forces him to choose. This clearly supports the idea of free-will within divine guidance.

Free Will vs Destiny

Destiny may knock on your door, but it’s free will that decides whether you open it or not.

Can You Strengthen Your Free-Will?

Yes. Here’s how:

• Practice mindfulness – Be more aware of your choices.
• Take responsibility – Don’t blame fate for every result.
• Make conscious decisions – Avoid automatic or emotional reactions.
• Reflect and learn – Growth fuels wiser choices.

Conclusion

Free-will is your spiritual muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. Life may not always go as planned, but your power lies in how you show up to meet it. You are not powerless and that’s what makes life both beautiful and unpredictable

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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Manjushaa Sinha

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