Is Free Will an Illusion? The Soul’s Pre-Planned Journey and the God Within

We often believe that we are in control of our choices, that free will defines our ability to shape our lives. But what if free will is just an illusion? What if, before we were born, we had already mapped out our journey, setting the experiences, challenges, and choices we would encounter?

This perspective suggests something profound: that we are not merely humans making decisions, but divine beings who pre-planned our own path. In essence, we are our own god, orchestrating our experiences for a greater purpose.

The Illusion of Choice

At first glance, life seems like a series of choices. We decide what to eat, where to work, whom to love. Yet, many philosophers, neuroscientists, and spiritual teachers argue that our decisions are not as free as they appear.

• Science & Determinism: Neuroscientific studies suggest that decisions are made in the brain before we consciously register them. This implies that free will may be an afterthought rather than the cause of our actions.

• Karma & Destiny: Many spiritual traditions teach that our actions are influenced by past karma, shaping our circumstances long before we make a decision.

• The Soul’s Blueprint: Some mystical teachings propose that before incarnation, the soul chooses its lessons, experiences, and even key relationships, creating a script that we follow once born.

If this is true, then what feels like free will is actually us playing out a divine script—a script we ourselves wrote.

The Forgotten Truth: We Are the Creators

This perspective doesn’t make life meaningless. On the contrary, it reveals something empowering: we are not victims of fate, but the architects of our reality.

Imagine watching a movie you wrote but temporarily forgetting you were the writer. You feel immersed in the characters, the ups and downs, believing in every choice made. Then, one day, you remember: This was my creation all along.

Spiritual awakening is the process of remembering. It’s realizing that every experience—joy, suffering, success, failure—was chosen for a reason. Even what seems like chaos is part of a deeper harmony.

If You Pre-Planned Your Life, What Changes?

The question is no longer “What should I choose?” but “What did I come here to experience?” Instead of resisting life, we begin to trust it. Challenges become opportunities for growth. Suffering becomes a lesson rather than punishment.

When we remember that we are both the experiencer and the creator, we shift from fear to empowerment, from struggle to surrender. The divine is not something outside of us—it is us.

So, the next time life presents you with a choice, ask yourself:

“Did I already choose this before I was born? And if so, what am I here to learn?”

The answer may surprise you.

Beauty Versus Fear

Fear, when left unchecked, becomes the locked door that keeps us from stepping into the unknown. It halts progress, keeps us trapped in cycles of hesitation, and blinds us to opportunities that lie just beyond our comfort zones. However, fear also serves a purpose—it protects us, forcing us to assess risk and make careful decisions rather than rushing into danger unprepared.

On the other hand, beauty—whether in nature, art, love, or ideas—becomes a gateway to everything expansive. It opens the heart, fuels inspiration, and allows us to see beyond limitations. Yet, beauty is subjective, and what one defines as beautiful can shape their reality in vastly different ways. If beauty is sought without grounding, it can lead to illusion or a detachment from the challenges that must be faced.

Ultimately, whether we proceed or hold back depends on what we choose to embrace: the comfort of a locked door or the uncertainty of an open gateway. Both paths have their merits, and the key is knowing when to challenge fear and when to let it guide us wisely.

Loyalty: What Is It All About?

Sometimes, people see loyalty as exclusive allegiance, while you see it as something that doesn’t have to create division or separateness. This is a deep spiritual conversation because it touches on attachment, ego, and unconditional love.

Loyalty Through a Spiritual Lens

From a higher perspective, true loyalty is not about exclusion, but about integrity. It’s about being true to your values while honoring the freedom and individuality of others.

  1. Loyalty Rooted in Fear vs. Love
    • Fear-based loyalty says: If you associate with people I dislike, you are betraying me.
    • Love-based loyalty says: I trust your heart and respect your choices, even if they differ from mine.
    The first is possessive and conditional, while the second allows freedom and connection.
  2. The Illusion of Separation
    • Your friend may see relationships in a “us vs. them” way, where being loyal means choosing sides.
    • You recognize that all beings are interconnected—we don’t have to create separation to be true to those we love.
    From a spiritual view, oneness is the highest truth, while division is an illusion created by the ego.
  3. Boundaries vs. Control
    • It’s okay for your friend to have personal boundaries—they may not want to associate with certain people for their own reasons.
    • But expecting you to mirror their boundaries crosses into control rather than mutual respect.
    True loyalty doesn’t require control—it thrives in trust.

How to Navigate This as a Healer

  • Affirm Your Integrity: “I value our friendship deeply, and my connection with others doesn’t take away from that.”
  • Help Them See the Bigger Picture: “I don’t see friendships as choosing sides. If I build bridges, it doesn’t mean I’m tearing ours down.”
  • Respect Their Feelings, But Hold Your Truth: “I understand this is important to you, and I honor that. At the same time, I hope you trust my heart in this.”

This can be an opportunity for healing and expansion—if they are open to it. If not, that’s also their journey to walk.

Gratitude: Questions To Reflect On

  1. What was one moment today that you felt grateful for, and why?
  2. Name a person who helped you this week. What did they do and how did it make you feel?
  3. What is something small that you often overlook, but truly appreciate when you think about it?
  4. When was the last time you felt thankful for something unexpected? Describe what happened.
  5. What is one way you can show gratitude towards someone this week?
  6. Think about a difficult situation. Can you find something in it that you are grateful for?
  7. What is an ability or skill you have that you are thankful for? How did it help you recently?
  8. Reflect on your surroundings. What is something in your environment you are grateful for today?
  9. Who is someone that you haven’t thanked recently but deserves your gratitude? Why?
  10. What is something you’re looking forward to, and why are you grateful for it?

These questions can prompt players to reflect on various aspects of gratitude in their lives, from interpersonal relationships to self-awareness and appreciation of the mundane.

Developing The Witness To The ‘I’ness Of You

Tools and Practices for Developing a Witness to Oneself

1. Mindfulness Meditation

  • Practice being fully present and aware of your activities and surroundings without overreacting. Start with a few minutes of focusing on your breath or bodily sensations and gradually increase your meditation time.

2. Journaling

  • Write down your thoughts and feelings regularly to observe your internal state without judgment. This helps in noticing patterns or triggers in your behavior.

3. Mindful Observation Exercises

  • Choose a routine activity and practice focusing completely on the task. For example, pay attention to the sensations of washing dishes, like the texture and temperature of the water, and the sounds around you.

4. Retreats and Silent Meditation

  • Participate in retreats or engage in silent meditation periods to deepen your capacity to observe your mental and emotional processes in an environment that minimizes external distractions.

5. Yoga and Breathwork

  • Engage in yoga and controlled breathing exercises to calm the mind and facilitate the observation of your thoughts without attachment, harmonizing the body and mind.

6. Daily Reflection

  • Spend a few minutes at the end of each day reflecting on your experiences and behaviors to develop a habit of observing your life’s narrative from a distance and recognizing patterns.

7. Reading and Listening to Spiritual Teachings

  • Regularly engage with the wisdom of spiritual teachers through books, lectures, or podcasts to gain insights and reinforce the importance of developing a witnessing consciousness.

8. Mindful Listening and Speaking

  • Practice listening to others without preparing your response while they speak, which cultivates presence and awareness of habitual mental responses. Also, practice mindful speaking by pausing before speaking, reflecting on the intention behind your words, and noticing your emotions.

Implementing these practices can help you develop the ability to witness yourself, leading to a more conscious and centered way of living.

Love Languages – A Tool For Transformation

The concept of the 5 Love Languages (words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch) is meant to help people understand how they give and receive love. However, it can also unintentionally reinforce a framework where people focus on compensating for a lack rather than expanding into love’s fullness.

If we view love as something we must receive in a specific way to feel whole, we risk reducing ourselves to a set of unmet needs. But if we approach love languages as a means to express love more fully—rather than just filling perceived voids—then they can become a tool for deeper connection rather than a limitation.

True love is expansive, beyond categories. It is not something we need to get but something we are. If we focus too much on how we receive love rather than how we embody love, we may unintentionally operate from a place of deficiency rather than abundance. What do you think?

Once unconscious beliefs about love and worthiness are identified, the next step is not just removing dependencies but transforming them into wholeness. Here’s a process that can help:

1. Awareness Without Judgment

Recognizing a dependency (such as needing affirmation or physical affection to feel loved) is powerful. Instead of rejecting it, observe it like a compassionate witness. Ask yourself:

  • Where did this come from?
  • What does this belief protect me from?
  • How has it shaped my relationships?

2. Releasing the Illusion of Lack

Many dependencies are rooted in the belief that love must come from outside. The truth is, love is within you, always present. A simple practice is to pause whenever you feel the craving for external validation and ask:

  • If I already had this love within me, how would I feel right now?
  • How can I give this to myself?

This shifts the energy from seeking to being.

3. Reparenting Yourself

If your love dependency stems from unmet childhood needs, you can “reparent” yourself by offering what was missing.

  • If you lacked encouragement, speak affirmations to yourself.
  • If you lacked presence, practice deep self-connection through meditation.
  • If you lacked physical affection, engage in self-care that nurtures your body (massage, movement, mindful touch).

The key is to become your own source of love, meeting yourself where others didn’t.

4. Expanding Love Beyond the Self

When love is no longer a dependency but a state of being, you naturally extend it outward. Instead of seeking, you overflow. Acts of kindness, deep presence, and giving without expectation become effortless.

This shift transforms relationships:

  • You love freely, without attachment.
  • You receive love without fear of losing it.
  • You recognize that love is not transactional—it simply is.

5. Living as Love Itself

At the highest level, love is not something to be “received” but recognized as who you are. When you dissolve the illusion of separation, the longing disappears—not because you don’t experience love from others, but because you realize you were never without it.

Does this resonate with you? Where do you feel the greatest attachment in receiving love?

Cultivating the Gentle Art of Discernment: Observing, Not Instructing

In a world that grows louder by the day – where advice and opinions flood our screens and everyday conversations – it can be refreshing to step back, pause, and simply observe. Discernment, in its essence, is a practice of perceiving the world without hastily labeling or judging it. We’re often taught to rush in and share our thoughts or prove our expertise, yet there is a transformative power in quietly witnessing what unfolds around us. The perspective I share here is not born of any scholarly credential or formal degree; it arises from the wellspring of my personal inner experience. My hope is that you might find resonance, inspiration, or just a calming pause in these reflections.


The Beauty of Observation

Observation is an act of mindfulness. When we listen to another person or observe a situation, it can be tempting to immediately categorize what’s happening – whether it’s right or wrong, good or bad, beneficial or harmful. But discernment invites us to linger a moment longer in that space before judgment.

Imagine yourself sitting on a park bench, watching people go by. If you let your mind wander freely, you might find yourself mentally critiquing their clothes, posture, or interactions. If, however, you bring gentle awareness to your thoughts, you can begin to see these mental labels forming and choose not to follow them. Simply notice the chatter in your mind. In that noticing lies the seed of discernment.


From Judgment to Understanding

There is a subtle difference between judgment and discernment. Judgment often carries an emotional charge, placing people or events in rigid categories of approval or disapproval. Discernment, on the other hand, is an open and curious awareness. It recognizes that life is rarely black and white; most of it exists in the delicate shades of gray. When we shift from judging to discerning, we are no longer insisting on controlling or changing what we see. Instead, we hold space for it to show its many facets.

In social interactions, this might look like listening to a friend talk about their struggles without offering immediate advice or “solutions.” It’s incredibly freeing – for both parties -when we’re able to simply hold the conversation in an open-hearted way. Discernment allows us to acknowledge complexity without trying to fix or correct it right away.


Becoming a Mirror, Not a Teacher

One of the greatest gifts we can offer one another is the gift of reflection – like a mirror, holding up a clear picture of the situation at hand, free of personal bias or judgment. This does not mean we pretend to have all the answers, nor does it mean we never share our insights. However, when we do offer a perspective, it is shared from a place of humility and curiosity, rather than authority.

Think of it like telling someone about the subtle changes in the sky before a storm. You aren’t claiming to control the weather, nor are you insisting that your observation is the final word on the subject. You are merely describing what you see in hopes it might resonate or spark new awareness in another person.


Discernment as an Inner Practice

Discernment begins within. Each time we catch ourselves in the act of labeling something as “this or that,” we have an opportunity to pause, reflect, and see if we can release that judgment. Over time, this practice of pausing helps us fine-tune our inner compass, guiding us toward clarity and empathy.

Life inevitably presents us with conflicts, misunderstandings, and questions of purpose. By honing discernment, we allow these experiences to be teachers rather than nuisances. We learn from the pain and the joy, from the light and the dark, and in doing so, we grow in compassion – for others, and for ourselves.


Sharing Without Expectation

When we speak or write about our experiences, there can be a lingering pressure to prove ourselves, to position our words as expert advice. But consider the beauty of simply sharing, without the weight of being a teacher. This is about offering a small window into our subjective reality, and trusting that whoever encounters these words can take what resonates and leave what doesn’t.

By releasing the need to convince or convert, we also release our attachment to how others receive our perspective. In this space of freedom, our words become more heartfelt, more vulnerable, and often, more impactful – precisely because we aren’t demanding they be taken as truth. We are merely pointing to a possibility.


Embracing the Quiet Power of Not Knowing

In a culture where knowledge is prized and accolades are collected, admitting we don’t know everything can feel daunting. Yet, there is an immense power in that humility. When we recognize that truth lies beyond credentials and textbooks, we open ourselves to wisdom that arises from inner depth. This wisdom, shaped by lived experiences and heartfelt reflection, speaks a language universal to all of us – compassion, curiosity, and wonder.

We need not boast any special degrees or merits to share our perspective. Each of us carries a piece of the grand tapestry of human insight. Discernment is the gentle process of weaving those pieces together, appreciating each thread without insisting any single piece is the ultimate pattern.


Conclusion

To cultivate the gentle art of discernment is to step into the role of the observer, rather than the instructor. It is to listen more intently, watch more carefully, and let go of the urge to categorize the world around us. While expertise and formal education have their rightful place, there is equally a deep well of understanding that arises from open-hearted presence. If you’ve found even a glimmer of resonance in these words, take that spark and let it illuminate your own path of mindful observation. May our shared reflections bring a sense of calm, clarity, and a renewed appreciation for the subtle beauty of being fully present in an ever-changing world.

Reflections

As the sun sets and the day winds down, the quiet of evening offers a perfect moment for reflection. This daily practice is not merely a passive recounting of events, but a proactive examination of what we’ve learned about ourselves and how we’ve interacted with the world around us.

Taking time each night to reflect allows us to process our experiences, understand our emotions, and clarify our thoughts. It’s an opportunity to acknowledge our successes, learn from our missteps, and recognize patterns that may be helping or hindering our growth. By engaging in this thoughtful review, we can make more informed choices about how to approach the challenges and opportunities of the coming day.

Here are a few guiding questions to facilitate evening reflections:

  • What am I grateful for today?
  • What did I learn about myself?
  • How did I contribute to my goals or the well-being of others?
  • What could I have handled differently?
  • What will I carry forward into tomorrow?

Incorporating this practice into our nightly routine can transform each evening into a moment of insight and introspection, ensuring that we live intentionally and evolve continuously.

Evening reflections like these not only help in closing out the day with a sense of completeness but also set the stage for thoughtful and purposeful living, reinforcing the lessons learned and preparing us for a fresh start each morning.