In this article we will talk about what it means to love one’s fate and see how our thoughts on fate can influence the quality of our lives.
We can start by determining what the concept of fate meant in the ancient world. Fate is a rational principle for things administered by providence within the universe. Fate includes everything that happens, without a single event being excused from its rule. In the ancient world, it was believed that even the Gods themselves were influenced by its pull. Therefore, fate is inevitable, destined and universal.
Their concept of fate was also connected to the concept of time. Greeks and Romans didn’t understand time as a line, but as a circle where fate binds us to certain events over and over again. This kind of thinking comes from Greek cosmology and the Stoics belief that the universe is in constant flux, as the universe goes through massive changes of destruction and rebirth. Each new-made universe is very similar to the last one and even the souls are “recycled” in this process, which stoics called a “world fire”.
When a soul inhabits a material body, it doesn’t have a memory of its previous life, although it is fated to live a new life that is not very different from the previous one. This is because the same struggles and joys continue to knock at the doors of life.
Amor Fati and Happiness
Amor fati is a Latin phrase that is often translated to “love of fate” or “love of one’s fate”. It is used to describe an attitude where one sees everything that happens in one’s life, including suffering and loss, as good or necessary. Fate is inevitable, relentless and indifferent towards us. So, no matter what we do, we are living under the influence of fate. There are times when we are content with our lives and fate, but there are also cases when we feel deeply disturbed by it, as if we are being crushed by its weight. We can understand fate as the eternal chain of causality (cause-effect), which determines how events will occur.
We will now reflect on the practical importance of amor fati from a Stoic angle. Although Stoic philosophers never used the phrase amor fati, their teachings are the finest example of its expression. To Stoics, it is unreasonable to deny fate, as this attitude is equal to denying nature itself. Instead, we should embrace fate and accept everything that happens to us with a smile on our face.
It is important to note that the Stoics’ concept of fate also plays a role in their idea of ethics and virtue. To be virtuous, one must know how the universe functions. According to Stoics, the universe is deterministic, which means we can’t control it. But we can control our responses to everything fate throws at us. As Marcus Aurelius said:
“Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.”
Marcus Aurelius
That is the pure form of amor fati. You need to understand what is happening to yourself, and in order to preserve your wellbeing, you should embrace fate with all your heart. If we don’t embrace fate, we end up like those who try to fight against it. Those people are deeply miserable, as their struggle to resist fate often has tragic consequences. They turn their lives into battles that they are desperate to control and win; however, they have naturally lost before the fight has even begun.
“Fate leads the willing and drags along the reluctant.”
Seneca
We can choose to resist fate and to be dragged through our entire lives missing opportunities to be happy, or we can follow and love fate in order to find true happiness. In order to love fate, one must drop their impressions of the future and distant dreams. Fate tells us to focus on the present and to enjoy it to the highest degree.
Meditating on Obstacles and Personal Growth
How do you feel when you overcome a huge obstacle in your life? You must feel great about yourself because you have that feeling of accomplishment, especially when you weren’t certain you would accomplish it.
This is exactly how fate works. You never know what will hit you, but your resilience will be improved every time you manage to find a solution to the problem. We grow every day, but our growth wouldn’t be possible without the obstacles that stand in our way. So, learn to love your obstacles, because they are like puzzles that need to be solved. Adopting this approach is the only way to grow as a person.
“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
Marcus Aurelius
Reflect on your past and see how many struggles you had to survive or overcome to get where you are standing now. When life is difficult, think about how strong you have been in the past and how you endured those hardships.
“Be like the cliff against which the waves continually break; but it stands firm and tames the fury of the water around it.”
Marcus Aurelius
