Amor Fati : Ignite Inner Strength To Find Peace

Amor Fati’s meaning is “love of fate”, it is a Latin phrase. It talks about accepting all that life throws at you, the good and the bad. It is about accepting life in its entirety, sadness, happiness, victories, and defeats. I came about this term while I was reading about Stoicism.

Most well-known Stoic philosophers talk about accepting or loving your fate in their teachings.

When you love your life as it is, nothing can stop you from achieving inner peace.

Origin Of Amor Fati?

Friedrich Nietzsche was the one who came up with this concept.

Amor Fati is absolute acceptance of all that happens, the good and the bad. This acceptance is of everything that ever happened, with no wish of anything happening any differently.

We on the other hand live our lives quite differently.

I, for instance often spend quite a while wishing certain things would have played out differently, just thinking and wishing, although knowing that none of it is going to change. The words ‘If only’ drains us out. If only I had done this, did that, not said this, etc. These thoughts just distract us from the task at hand and just add anxiety, a sure-shot way to complicate life.

Whenever we set out to attain something we often attach ourselves to the outcome, instead of the task at hand to achieve it. We spend time either fantasizing about what we desire or stressing about what we do not.

To avoid this we should let go of all that we do not control or possess. It is impossible to control the outcome, we can only position ourselves to accept what is to come and move on.

Implementing ‘Amor Fati’ in life is simple to learn, but needs practice to implement. It is tough because our mind drifts out to the future often, and fantasizes about a life we desire. But if you follow certain principles it might become easier.

How Do You Practice ‘Amor Fati’

Being familiar with failure, and exposing yourself to a bit of it prepares you. Such experiences you averse would make you realize that it is not that bad.

If you are averse to thoughts of poverty, live minimally for some time, an experience of what you fear will help you to be prepared.

If you are scared of loneliness, spend some time alone with things you love doing alone. This would make you realize that the fear of loneliness is worse than actual loneliness.

A Change Is An Opportunity

I have had many things that I feared would happen, actually happen.

Now that I think about it, each of those things led me to where I am right now.

My first US visa rejection pushed me to change jobs. At the new place I got the same opportunity again within a year and this time I got through. I might not have got this opportunity again in my first organization.

In 2018, my US visa extension was rejected which led me to successfully apply for Australian PR, which went on to help me become an Australian citizen last year. These are just two of the instances where what I feared the most eventually ended up being a blessing in disguise.

Every new situation opens doors to newer opportunities, maybe better than what you had before. Amor Fati.

Happiness Is Relative

Happiness is something that largely depends on the circumstances. Things you are happy about now may eventually not be of relevance anymore.

Take a look back at your life, remember your first job and the feeling you had when you got through, A few years down the line you might just end up hating that job. I hope you understand where i am going with this.

Happiness is the circumstance you create. It is easy to constantly fight with what has been or be sad about what is to be, but the stress induced by such thought is usually worse than the eventuality you fear.

If you have a roof over your head, you are happier than the homeless. With food to eat, you are happier than hungry. If you have a family to call your own, you are happier than the abandoned.

Learning to find happiness in the little things you have and have gratitude for all that made it happen. This is a great way to live. Amor Fati.

Living In The Present

The present is all we have.

The past has already happened and the future is unseen you can only control your present. Although the future that you fear will be the present you will eventually have, but as of now it is all about the present.

There is no good or bad future it is just what you perceive it to be.

Embrace your present by being accepting and mindful of it. No matter how bad a situation get it will eventually pass.

Experience every moment by cherishing it or learning from it. Because all that is good or bad is what you make of it. You are in charge of your life, you are the king of your castle.

The four ways stated above are how you can implement Amor Fati in your life. Take it one step at a time. This philosophy of life would take you a long way in your pursuit of a happy and content life.

Amor Fati.

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Until next time.