To Plan or Summon?

'"The person leading the Well-Planned Life emphasizes individual agency, and asks, “What should I do?” The person leading the Summoned Life emphasizes the context, and asks, “What are my circumstances asking me to do?”'

Read the article here:
The Summoned Self - David Brooks, NYTimes

This is a nice article to get the ball rolling.  Short and leaving lots to ponder further about.

One point in particular stood out to me.  That is, using my current circumstances or context to answer the question of my life's purpose.  This has never occurred to me.  Context and circumstances are somewhat trivial.  Not driven by some higher force.  That's my opinion.

So I live in Oregon.  So what?  I could just have easily ended up in Ohio.  So I'm a poor-as-a-church-mouse law student.  Clearly I knew this would happen when I decided to attend grad school.  When it comes down to it, the majority of things - my location, wealth, lifestyle, etc - have been the result of my decisions.  Some of which might have been very bad decisions.  Some I mulled over for months.  Others were split second reactions.  Some were decided by lots of contemplation, weighing of pros and cons, and seeking advice.  While other times I went with my gut.  No explanation other than a feeling.

On the other hand, I can't deny that certain things have been out of my control.  Such as my natural abilities and deficiencies.  Or my childhood.  Are those things supposed to contain some undisclosed secrets as to who I am, where I'm going, etc?  That's what the Summoned Life theory proposes.  But wait.  Those things are only pieces of the puzzle.  They don't constitute the whole.  Surely they shouldn't control my life.  Should they?  It all comes down to FATE!

Okay, so for argument's sake, let's pretend there is such a thing as fate.  And you are willing to go along with it.  You are wandering down life's path yielding to the forces that be, and then kerplunk!  You land in a cubicle resembling Peter Gibbons, the main character in Office Space (only Jennifer Anniston won't be walking into your life anytime soon).  Ugh!  Your life sucks!  So what now?  What if you don't like where fate has taken you?  Is a person supposed to throw their hands up and say, "Oh well?"  No.  Not in my opinion.

I strive to approach my life with a strong, internal locus of control.  This "locus of control" stuff basically says that some people, those with a high internal locus, believe that events result primarily from their own behavior and actions.  Whereas those with a high external locus believe that they have no control over their destiny or day to day lives.  They are simply riding a wild mustang along the road of life.  No reigns in sight.

A person's locus of control can also vary in degree.  Think of it as a continuum with the high external locus on the far left (Fate controls my destiny) lessing toward an apathetic belief in the middle (I just don't know, it might be both, etc) and ending in a high internal locus on the far right (I control my destiny).  So which are you?

HIGH......MED.......LOW.......ZERO........LOW........MED.......HIGH
<------------------------------------------------------------------------------>
External................................Apathetic......................................Internal

Which am I?  Not surprisingly, I have a high internal locus.  I would guess most people who visit a site like this are the same.  The internal locusers (as I will call them) by definition question the way things are more than the external locusers.  They seek out advice, proof that change can happen.  One may not be able to control everything.  But neither are they without any power.  I believe I can grab the mane of that wild mustang, scream like hell, and head for the hills.  Hold on tight, friends.

-E