Understanding Fate and Its Transformability

Recently, friends have posed a thought-provoking question: "Is it possible to alter one's fate?" Through various observations, I've come to recognize that individuals can indeed minimize significant challenges and even eliminate minor setbacks. Moreover, people have the ability to convert a life filled with hurdles into a more seamless journey.

The Distinctions Between the Elite and Everyday Individuals

At a glance, there may seem to be little difference between the so-called "chosen ones" and ordinary people. Both require nourishment and rest...

Today, I want to introduce a concept that plays a pivotal role in this discussion: blessings or merits. This term may be unfamiliar to some, so let’s rephrase it as “credit.”

Listening to intuition and engaging in independent thought can be abstract ideas. As Ray Dalio, the founder of Bridgewater, aptly noted, the global economy operates on a credit system. I wholeheartedly agree, and this principle is evident in our daily lives. The income we generate from our jobs is essentially dictated by our credit—not solely our trustworthiness, but our perceived credit in the eyes of others.

For instance, when you receive a generous salary from your employer, it reflects a relationship of trust; your boss believes you are worth that remuneration. In a similar vein, when dealing with clients, your products or services serve as a form of credit that facilitates collaboration and income. People are willing to pay because they perceive value in your offerings.

Wealth represents just a fragment of the energetic flow in our world. The resources we exchange are rooted in credit. When this credit system falters, the energy dissipates, much like a country's currency losing value when its creditworthiness declines. A nation's power and stature can diminish in an instant.

With this foundation laid, let’s delve into the idea of merits or blessings. This concept is not novel; in Eastern thought, amassing blessings is akin to earning points, culminating in a larger value known as merit. There are two categories: visible virtue and hidden virtue.

Visible virtue consists of performing good deeds that are recognized by others, like charitable donations accompanied by public acknowledgment. Conversely, hidden virtue entails performing good deeds discreetly. It is said that the impact of hidden virtue is more significant and enduring, even affecting future generations. While some engage in good deeds for public recognition, this can dilute the genuine merit of their actions. True altruism stems from selflessness, not the desire for acclaim.

Each individual possesses two credit systems: one shaped by external evaluations and another grounded in self-belief. External credit fosters endorsements and encourages positive interactions with the material world, generating favorable responses. Internal credit, or hidden virtue, reinforces our self-esteem, ensuring that our altruistic actions are genuine and rooted in our intrinsic goodness. Generally, our beliefs shape our lives, often referred to as fate. A negative mindset can lead to an adverse fate, while regularly performing good deeds cultivates recognition and bolsters self-belief, ultimately transforming our destiny.