Five Fatalistic Beliefs that Paralyze You
Many people are unaware of their deep-rooted fatalistic beliefs. These beliefs somehow filter into your consciousness at some point and stay there for years. You believe that the way you see the world is normal and you rarely question your ideas. However, you’d realize that these ideas are unrealistic and unfounded if you took a closer look at them.
The biggest problem with fatalistic beliefs is that they significantly limit your horizons. They’re false ideas camouflaged by truths so they can deceive you with erroneous conclusions about your reality. The worst thing about them is that they kill your will to change and live your life differently.
One by one, these false beliefs plant themselves in your collective unconscious. Not only that, but society holds up these false beliefs because they seem to explain some of life’s challenges. Let’s take a look at the five most common fatalistic beliefs.
“Don’t say: “Karma, Karma. My Karma has brought me like this”. Exert. Exert. Do Purushartha (deliberate and conscious action). Do Tapas (austerities). Concentrate. Purify. Meditate. Don’t become a fatalist. Don’t yield to inertia. Don’t bleat like a lamb. Roar Om Om Om like a lion of Vedanta.”
-Sri Swami Sivananda-
1. I have to blame and punish those who hurt me
This is one of the fatalistic beliefs that makes us act childish in our relationships. It makes us think that we’re passive victims of others’ actions in many situations. This is because playing the victim is a lot more appealing than taking responsibility.
In this context, many conflicts end in escalating violence. Everyone involved ends up harming each other. It’s also common that one or all parties involved in the conflict are more concerned with “winning” or playing the victim than actually solving the problem.
2. My misfortunate comes from external causes, so I can’t do anything about it
This is when you believe that negative experiences come from invisible forces that are out of your comprehension or control. For some reason or another, this bad luck is attached to you. In other words, blaming things on this external force makes it possible to avoid responsibility. It makes you a victim of random fate or destiny. If you can’t control what happens to you, why bother trying?
Again, in this situation, you’re assuming that you aren’t the subject, but instead the object of misfortune. You renounce any responsibility for your actions as well as the freedom to direct your own life. If you believe this, then you’ll attribute whatever happens to external forces. That way, you don’t have to evaluate your own actions and mistakes.
3. It’s easier to avoid problems than to face them
Looking for problems is as foolish as trying to avoid them. You hear and see messages all the time that tell you to keep things simple, to not get involved in problems. They tell you to leave things how they are and avoid rocking the boat. Oftentimes, these messages lead to passivity and conformism.
The worst thing is that avoiding your problems often makes them worse. Dealing with things in a timely and mature way can help make sure they don’t cause permanent damage. Sticking your head in the sand and waiting for something to pass can be a costly decision. You might be able to stop looking at the problem for a little while, but the consequences of this can be disastrous.
4. People don’t do what they’re supposed to do
Some people choose to explain away the bad in the world as the logical consequence of others’ actions. Other people don’t do what they’re supposed to do and that’s why things don’t work. This fatalistic belief isn’t helpful. On the contrary, it seriously distorts the interpretation of reality.
This belief also helps you avoid responsibility. Of course, it’s possible that you’re right about “other” people. They might not be doing what they should. However, every evil can’t be explained away by others’ mistakes or ill-intentioned actions.
5. It’s horrible when things don’t happen the way I want them to
Fatalistic beliefs tend to take root in the hearts of egocentric people. It’s their egocentrism that keeps them from analyzing their own convictions. It makes it hard, if not impossible, for them to accept the possibility that they’re wrong. That’s why it’s easy to find people who get frustrated when things don’t happen exactly the way they want them to.
That’s because they believe there’s only one way of seeing and doing things: their way. When reality goes against their desires, they can’t broaden their horizons and accept it. Instead, they fight against reality and can’t move forward.
In conclusion, all of these fatalistic beliefs are damaging. They contribute to the idea that you’re not the one in charge of your life. Instead, they eradicate the liberty and autonomy that we’re all capable of having.
