Life Does Not Predetermine Anyone's Fate. It Is All Up to You!
Sharing with everyone an insightful post I found on a stock forum.
Dreaming of being an eagle while acting like a timid mouse will never let you spread your wings across the high skies, nor will it ever grant you a vast vision to soar freely and leisurely.
No one is born destined to be a master or a servant. Plenty of people with gentle, blessed features and prosperous faces still pedal cyclos for a living, while someone with unconventional, frail looks like Jack Ma commands one of the world's most powerful business empires.
I still vaguely recall a story about a former French prince that I heard during my college years. He was exiled by rebel forces to a distant corner of Italy, surrounded by luxury, alcohol, debauchery, and gambling—all designed to brainwash him into corruption and make him forget his royal identity. Yet none of these schemes could break his spirit; he constantly reminded himself that he was born to be a king, not to live an ordinary life. Thus, he remained aloof and turned away from all the temptations laid before him, silently tempering his inner resolve day and night. When the opportunity to return to France arrived, he rallied his loyal confidants, led an army to overthrow the rebels, and ascended to the pinnacle of power—becoming a mighty and noble monarch.
Or consider the story of twin brothers separated at birth and raised in two entirely different environments. Though identical in physical appearance, one grew up to be a business owner while the other lived his days as a shoe shiner. Two men, two different destinies.
The stories above point to two key lessons:
First, physical appearance does not dictate whether one becomes a leader or a servant.
Second, inner willpower is what directs life, not living conditions or external environments.
Having a favorable appearance makes it easier to gain acceptance and achieve initial success; however, harboring the mindset of a subordinate means you will never become a master. Without willpower, you are easily knocked down, manipulated, and pulled around by circumstance—living a life in servitude, worrying about the next meal before even finishing the current one. Conversely, even with an unassuming look like Jack Ma's, if you possess unwavering willpower and vision, spreading your wings like an eagle and steering your own life is only a matter of time.
When you stop blaming circumstances, shoulder the responsibility of navigating your own life, and take action to confront tough challenges, you regain control over your destiny. And always remember:
Saying so does not mean having inner strength guarantees you will effortlessly seize your destiny. Mastering fate also depends on external factors—favorable timing, geographic advantage, and harmonious human relationships. But if you lack inner willpower right from the start, you are bound to be dragged along by life.
Relating this to my own reality and the world around me, I would like to quote two famous poetic lines by Phan Boi Chau:
Those are the two lines I always carry with me as a personal rallying cry to remind myself:
This life must be seized and steered by our own hands. If you cannot be the founder of a business empire, become an owner of fractional pieces of great business empires. Never resign yourself to being a servant; become the master of your own life first. If you yearn to be an eagle, you must learn to brave storms and tempestuous winds, learn to look thousands of miles ahead, and envision the future across decades and centuries.
Thank you for reading my article!
Kim,