WHO would you become if one day, you woke up and realised that your purpose in life had already been designed for you? Like wearing a crown that is passed down from generation to generation or pursuing a family trade that is upheld as a tradition, what if you, too, had an ultimate purpose that was already set out for you? Would you feel suffocated by the idea that you are no longer in control of your destination, or would you feel free from the burden of figuring out where you truly belong? The idea of destiny has been the subject of many debates. Through its very existence, it changes what a human life can mean. After all, destiny is what distinguishes whether a human defines himself or whether his purpose does.

As young people, we often feel lost. We may know who we are, but we may not know where we belong or where we are meant to go. Finding our purpose is much like embarking on a scavenger hunt while shrouded in darkness. The idea of a destiny is enticing as it frees us from the burden of finding our own identity and learning to overcome our own obstacles in its pursuit. The truth is that for many of us, knowing a sure-set destiny would prevent us from becoming better people, from attempting to change our perspectives or pushing ourselves to grow. There would be no need for us to endure the discomfort of growth if we knew that, regardless of who we are, we would meet our ultimate destiny and live the life that has already been predetermined.

Thus, the real question lies not in whether destiny exists, but in whether the confirmation of its existence could change what human beings are capable of.

To put it simply, some paths are quite challenging to take. Nevertheless, we often make the choice to go down these paths to discover whether there is a hidden treasure lying at the end of it. Although we may face struggles and obstacles, we push forward to meet the potential reward. Then, when we reach the end of our roads, we are often changed for the better. Our struggles would have made us stronger people.

However, if we knew what was at the end of these paths even before we began our journey through them, we would never choose to put ourselves through these struggles. Thus, we lose the strength and understanding that these journeys could have given us.

Jean-Paul Sartre was a French philosopher who once proposed that “Existence precedes essence.” These words directly oppose the existence of destiny. The word “essence”, in this context, refers to one’s meaning or purpose.

Every object around us exists in the specific way that it does because it is made to fulfil its essence — its purpose. A notebook is blank because its essence is to be filled with words. A ship has sails because its primary purpose is to transport people across the oceans. A cup is hollow because its essence is to hold water. When it comes to human beings, however, we have no specific “essence” apart from what we choose to create for ourselves.

Only human beings begin to exist before their purpose has been determined. We have no pre-set purpose to fulfil or a predetermined path to walk. Our choices are the only factors that can determine who we are. Although this fact can feel frightening at times, we will eventually realise how truly freeing it is to know that our fate lies in no one’s hands but our own. It means that there is no trauma, title, or responsibility that we need to carry from one generation to the next.

The promise of destiny is a dangerous hope, as it prevents us from being who we truly can be. If you are troubled by the inability to discover your purpose, know that every step you make, even if made in darkness, is making you a stronger person. Thus, even if you never do discover your destiny, you can rest knowing that every choice you have made has been your own choice. You will know that you created your essence.