We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Does everything happen for a reason?

Merithyn
Merithyn Posts: 284 Member
edited January 9 in Chit-Chat
That's my mom's response whenever something doesn't go the way we hope it will. Do you believe this?

Replies

  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    No. I refuse to believe that.

    My life and its courses are not the result of some kind of cosmic scale. Bad things did not happen to me because they were supposed to. Bad things happened to me because sometimes bad **** just happens. Same for good things.

    I believe in immediate cause and affect, but not "reasons."

    Marcus on Babylon 5 put it perfectly. I'm paraphrasing here, but he said "If everything happens for a reason, then there's some awful reason why these - (motioning to a group of homeless and sick men) - people are in such pain. I much prefer to think that the Universe has a hands off approach than to think it was destined this way."

    EDIT: The actual quote: " I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, 'wouldn't it be much worse if life *were* fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them?' So now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. "

    Bless Straczynski.
  • diodelcibo
    diodelcibo Posts: 2,564 Member
    Everything has something that causes it , but they can be good and bad.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,147 Member
    Things happen because they do.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    there is a reason for everything happening
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member
    No, life is essentially chaos.
  • mikeyboy
    mikeyboy Posts: 1,057 Member
    I believe it does.... but sometime we are the reason.
  • mlclarke22
    mlclarke22 Posts: 551 Member
    I believe everything happens for a reason..although i dont always know why they happen the way they do.
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    Everything does happen for a reason. Of course. But, I don't mean it the way your mom does.

    It comes from a religious place for people that believe that god has a plan for you. Lol. I don't think those people ever read the bible. But, anyway, yeah, I got in an accident because that jerk cut me off. I stubbed my toe because I didn't pick up my foot all the way while taking a step. My wife left me because she thought she found someone better. My house fell apart in the earthquake. All reasons for things happening. Has nothing to do with predestiny though. At least, I don't believe that.
  • LucyT4dieting
    LucyT4dieting Posts: 284 Member
    I absolutely believe that everything (good and bad) happens for a reason. I don't know why, but sometimes, just sometimes, I find the reason, and it's always a revelation! Why did I stay in an unhappy marriage for so long? Who knows? There were many times that my ex was a source of strength in difficult situations in spite of the fact that he was an addict who was impossible to live with. If I had left him earlier, would I have found the love of my life who is my current husband? Maybe, maybe not! I respect everyone's right to a different opinion and belief, but looking back on how many of the events have played out in my life, I do believe this to be true.
  • perfectingpatti
    perfectingpatti Posts: 1,037 Member
    I believe that all of life's happenings, whether good or bad, are meant for us to learn and grow. I believe that some good can come from all sufferings.
  • RhonndaJ
    RhonndaJ Posts: 1,615 Member
    Everything does happen for a reason. Of course. But, I don't mean it the way your mom does.

    It comes from a religious place for people that believe that god has a plan for you. Lol. I don't think those people ever read the bible. But, anyway, yeah, I got in an accident because that jerk cut me off. I stubbed my toe because I didn't pick up my foot all the way while taking a step. My wife left me because she thought she found someone better. My house fell apart in the earthquake. All reasons for things happening. Has nothing to do with predestiny though. At least, I don't believe that.

    This. Without the judgement about not reading the bible.
  • First off, I think the question is similar to "what's your favorite color?", an impossible to be wrong, but only possible to be right for yourself and others might agree. For example, my wife feels the opposite to what I do (and one of the reasons is rationale for our opposite views). That said, my feelings:

    I assume when people say things happen for a reason, they are saying things were meant to happen, not cause. I believe things happen with cause, but not because they were meant to be. I believe in an omnipotent God (again, that's up top each person), but while all-powerful, not all-controlling. But for those people who read the Bible, I would hope you didn't skip over free will. So things happen, but not for me, not as a master plan, nor because it was meant to be or because you deserved it (though often our actions lead to just consequences).

    My wife feels the opposite to this idea of things happening for a reason and one of the aspects we base our divergent views on, large fatality counts from airplane crashes. She views that it happened for a reason, though she is at piece not knowing the reason. I see no meant to be in a situation like that, just a reason (weather, poor equipment, pilot error, etc.).
  • DJJW
    DJJW Posts: 519 Member
    Bad things happen all the time, why dwell on the why. It is all about how you handle yourself through good time AND bad.
    Sorry you are having a rough patch, hope it's a fast one.
  • WrenStory
    WrenStory Posts: 103
    I think it's similar to the saying "God works in mysterious ways" when what people really mean is: "It doesn't make sense."

    Unless there is a supreme being manipulating the multiverse, I'm content to say some things happen for no reason at all. Many, in fact.
  • snoopytwins
    snoopytwins Posts: 1,759 Member
    If you ponder your life events, sure you can have a moment of epiphany that you may tie to the event as the reason for it happening. I believe that's merely coincide. The reason does not cause the event; however, the event may cause the reason...to those inclined to believe that.
This discussion has been closed.