This is an age-old question: "Is it my will or God's will?" People often wonder, "Is everything already decided, or do I have free will?" These thoughts usually come up when life feels out of control—when things aren't going our way, and we feel powerless. In those moments, we might think, "This is my destiny, and I can't change it." Sometimes, people even use this as an excuse for being inactive, blaming God for their lack of effort. But the question of free will needs deeper reflection.

Free will is generally understood as the ability to choose what we want. We feel a lack of it when we don’t control what happens. For example, I may want a job that allows me to express myself, but I stay in my current job to support my family. I may want to go comfortably in the train home, but it’s too crowded. After a long day, I may want to eat a peaceful dinner, but my wife is upset about our child’s behavior. I may want to quit smoking or drinking, but after a stressful day, I give in.

If we look more closely, we’ll see that this idea of free will itself is a thought that comes from somewhere—maybe from our past experiences in this life or even a previous one. So, if this thought comes from a past event, it’s part of a chain of cause and effect. In that sense, it’s not truly free because it depends on something else. We are the result of many births and evolution of billions of years and hence we will have many impressions that will affect our current life.

Spirituality teaches that as long as we are in a human body, we are bound by the law of cause and effect. Our lives are shaped by impressions from past lives, and certain circumstances are predestined. But there is one part of us that has true free will—the soul. Spiritual teachings say that our true nature is the soul, which is free. So, from a human perspective, we may not always feel free, but our deeper self, the soul, does have free will.

We will never be able to reach to conclusion if it is my will or God's will. So the best way is to approach is to believe we have free will, so we don’t become passive and stop striving for anything. From a spiritual perspective, we can use our free will to seek the truth of who we are. We may not control every situation, but we can have the strong will to keep searching for our true identity and lasting happiness.

Quote of the week

Spiritual Wisdom

We recognize our compulsive behaviors but struggle to accept them. For example, we know alcohol harms our body and mind, yet we continue drinking, telling ourselves it’s just part of enjoying life. What we fail to see is how fleeting moments of pleasure are damaging our health. To break free from this cycle, we must strive for true freedom from compulsion—and Yoga can guide us on that path.

I recommend...

YouTube video - Being Kind to Yourself - [HINDI] - खुद के प्रति दयालु होना by Om Swami (21 mins video)

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Book - The Law Of Success: Using The Power Of Spirit To Create Health Prosperity, And Happiness by Paramahansa Yogananda

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