Spinoff: Do you think one has complete control over their own life?

[PVD99]

I definitely do not. I don't think you can control life. I think you can try really hard to control it, but what happens will happen. I guess it also depends what facet of one's life we are talking about. Relationships, definitely no control over it. I don't even think you can control your own job situation. If you get laid off, you get laid off.

[jrwilheim]

Complete control? No. Some control? Definitely.

[winneythepooh7]

I think we have control over many choices and decisions we make. Now major things we do not. For example, I work with people who have brain injuries. There is nothing you can do to have control over something like this happening. With relationships though, I still think a lot of that comes down to choice. We always have a choice of who we want to be with. I see it on here with the ton o' threads lately from people who won't leave their abusive boyfriends. You do have a choice over that kind of a situation in my honest opinion.

[shimmer728]

I don't think anyone ever has complete control over everything, all the time.

[Bugsey34]

No, I don't think you can have control over everything. I used to like to think you had some control over relationships, but you can really only control your own actions and responses to other people.

[tdko]

Winney has it right. The only thing we can control (and therefore must take responsibility for) is our actions.

[Cole]

Yes, yes I do.

[mijois]

I don't think anyone has control over anything... but we just think we do... which keeps us from going insane! Whatever is meant to be will be, we can only decide how we respond to it.

[paiger81]

No one has complete control. All we have are choices.

[Bugsey34]

I don't think anyone has control over anything... but we just think we do... which keeps us from going insane! Whatever is meant to be will be, we can only decide how we respond to it.

Well I think thinking you have complete control actually makes you go insane, because when things don't go your way, it's difficult to accept. Says the only child from experience. :D

[Cole]

Hm, I want to reword my emphatic yes.

I think we CAN have complete control over our lives. Just most of us don't.

And it can only happen if you're totally clear on exactly what you want. Which is why it's so hard. Because most of us have no clue or a bajillion ideas.

Myself included.

[AznHisoka]

Ok, let's list the different facets of life we believe we can control and cannot.

Relationships? No control over them? What are you talking about? If you feel your significant other isn't right for you, then move on! Why must you feel pressured to stay in one if you don't like it? There is no law that forces you to be with someone.

Job? Again, noone is forcing you to work. Sure, there are constraints such as finances, and putting food on the table. But for the most part, if you dun like your job you can quit.

Health? I think to an extent, you have no control over certain things that are passed on through genetics. However, I think it is very wise to take responsibility for our health and not blame genetics so much.

I think we have a lot of control over our life. Those who feel we can't control certain things are either mentally weak, are scared of what others will think, or have put themselves in a situation where they have no control.

[paiger81]

Relationships? No control over them? What are you talking about? If you feel your significant other isn't right for you, then move on! Why must you feel pressured to stay in one if you don't like it? There is no law that forces you to be with someone.

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of you have no control over who you fall in love with. You may be sitting there thinking "Gee, this is what I need in a person to be happy" then blamo! Next thing you know, you fall for someone completely opposite.

[cheshrcarol]

You also can't control if your SO dumps you or if you get fired.

[wordsmith]

There's tons you can't control.

That's why learning how to best roll with the punches is so important a skill to have.

[natbumpo]

I think people have much more control than most people believe. Too many people I hear say they have no control over what happens use that as an excuse or a crutch.

There are events that occur that maybe you don't have control over (some, not all), but how you do and how you are able to respond to those events is 100% in your control.

[SunDevil]

You have control over some things, like what you do in life and some choices with money, being a good worker, what schools you apply to.

You can't control other people without tricking, deceiving or convincing them.