A couple of months ago, while sitting in a gathering, I found myself wondering why certain things happen to me. It’s natural to have these feelings, especially when things don’t go according to our wishes or when we fail despite our best efforts. Many philosophies talk about accepting both good and bad fate. It’s a simple truth that we will fail at times, things won’t always go as planned, people may hurt us, and betrayals can happen. It’s natural to ask, “Why is this happening to me?” Sometimes we even question why we should put in effort if everything is predestined.
In this video, I will share:
- What is Amor Fati?
- Why it is important for us.
- How it makes us strong.
- What ancient Indian and Stoic philosophies say about it.
“Amor Fati” is a Latin phrase that means “love of fate” or “love of one’s fate.” This philosophical concept emphasizes embracing and accepting everything that happens in life, whether good, bad, or ugly. It’s not about passively accepting whatever life brings but actively loving and finding meaning in all experiences, including the challenging ones.
Marcus Aurelius once said, “Whatever happens to you has been waiting to happen since the beginning of time. The twining strands of fate wove both of them together.” As we grow to love life, we start to see the truth in his words: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” Obstacles help us build virtue, and virtue is the only sure path to eudaimonic bliss.
Epictetus advised, “Do not seek to have events happen as you want them to, but instead want them to happen as they do happen, and your life will go well.” He also said, “Remember that you are an actor in a play, of such a kind as the author may choose. If short, then in a short one; if long, then in a long one. If it be his pleasure that you should enact a poor man, a cripple, a governor, or a private person, see that you act it well.”
Amor Fati means accepting fate as it comes. We cannot change it, but we can accept it and move on, believing there is something better in it.
What about those things that haven’t happened yet? Often, we hesitate to act because we overthink the results and fear failure. We need to accept whatever the future holds but recognize that it is our duty to work and act.
Chanakya said, “Once you start working on something, don’t be afraid of failure and don’t abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.”
The problem is not the outcome but how wholeheartedly you work on it. Love of fate teaches us to detach from the outcome.
A similar concept is found in ancient India when Krishna spoke to Arjuna: “Therefore, only those who act without being attached to the fruits of their action, but as a matter of performing their duty, can attain the Supreme” (Gita 3.19).
Amor Fati teaches us that what happens to us or is bound to happen is beyond our control. But we should work on our tasks or goals as our duty, staying detached from the outcome. The output is beyond our control. If you give your 100%, you will never regret it.
Implementing Amor Fati in our lives makes us more responsible individuals. We become more aware of what we can and cannot control. It gives us direction in our work. Acceptance of fate helps us overcome pain and suffering, but our feelings, thoughts, and reactions are within our control.
I hope you enjoy this video. Amor Fati helps us understand more about ourselves, what hurts us, and what feelings arise when past events appear in our minds. Instead of focusing on what people think or how they behave towards us, we should focus on our response. There is a common saying that we suffer more in imagination than in reality. Amor Fati teaches us to accept fate and not be afraid to act due to attachment to the end result.
See you in the next video.