"What to be - that cannot be avoided" or "it is so written on the race" - phrases that can be heard from the fatalist. Someone would agree with such statements, but the majority of people consider them ridiculous. Why, then, did the fatalist, as a personality type, not disappear under the pressure of rationalism and logic? What makes people still believe in fate? How fair are their beliefs? Does fatalism have any advantages or does it only complicate a person’s life? How to build a dialogue with the owner of this type of person? What do you need to know about it?
Who is a fatalist
A fatalist is a person who is confident in the ordination of events. He believes in destiny and destiny. If something happens, then so must be. In the worldview of the fatalist, the role of man is insignificant, and all decisions are made by the highest forces. Religiosity and superstitiousness are inherent in this type of person. He often believes in omens, predictions, fortune telling. Inclined to see influence in everything. Fatuma (fate), from which it derives its name.
Belief in destiny arose at the dawn of mankind. Religions and cults of the world only stirred up the opinion of people about the divine influence on their lives. Despite the development of science, fatalism has not disappeared anywhere in the modern era. To perceive it purely as a relic of the past, it is impossible, because people still have not learned to control their own destiny. We understand how inclinations and inclinations are formed, we logically interpret our vocation, but we often discover our true purpose by chance.
It is these unforeseen moments that relate to the fate that leads a person along routes known only to her. Fatalism has a variety of rationales. and sometimes it has a beneficial effect on the human psyche, as opposed to those who take all the responsibility on their shoulders. We will talk about the advantages of fatalism a bit later, and now we will consider the history of the development of this worldview.
The concept of Fatum, as a synonym for fate, originated in ancient Rome. He was of divine nature, manifesting the will of the higher powers in relation to mortals. The life path of a person was determined at birth. Fatah, the deities who have power over destinies, answered for this. Even earlier, in the times of ancient Greece, they were called Moira.
It is worth noting that faith in fate was present among other long-standing nations. The divine influence on events in a person’s life seemed obvious and self-evident. Ancient Sumerians, Egyptians, Khets and other civilizations were convinced that their mission does not depend on the will of man. Although the latter could certain actions to adjust their fate, if the gods decided to revise their original plans. This belief was especially strongly developed in the long-standing Chinese culture, the philosophers of which believed that the fate of a person directly depends on the correctness of his behavior.
Whatever it was, but attempts to open the veil of the future were made by all nations. Predictors, astrologers and fortune-tellers firmly rooted in our society from the very moment of its appearance. The forms and methods of their work changed, but the essence remained unchanged. These people promise to predict events until the moment they occur. Given the popularity of horoscopes and fortune telling, even in our high-tech era, it can be stated that the victory over fatalism is not so close.
On the other hand, there is no smoke without fire. The nearest astronomical objects, first of all, the Moon and the Sun, really influence the human life. The absence of the Higher Mind has not been proven, nor has it been disproved. There are regular references to inexplicable coincidences that drastically change people's lives, or the course of historical events. All this allowed fatalism to firmly take root in the subconscious of many people, displacing self-confidence and rationalism from it.
If we also consider religion, with its ideas about the end of the world and other prophecies of the prophets, then tens of millions of people can be counted among the ranks of fatalists. Given their number, it is naive to assume the homogeneity of this group, which includes the most different types of perception of fate.
Types of fatalists
Fatalism, as a type of worldview, most often acquires one of three possible variations:
- Domestic (everyday) - narrow-minded pessimism, which pushes a person to blame the higher forces for his failures;
- Religious (theological) - belief in the ordination of events and the influence of the divine will on people's lives;
- Logical (rational) - the conviction that the events are the result of previous actions.
The first two types can also be called irrational (non-logical) fatalism. At the philistine level, superstitious people tend to look for clues in horoscopes, signs and advice of fortune-tellers. Such fatalists sometimes even have a relationship, according to the compatibility of the signs of the zodiac. A black cat or an old woman with an empty bucket can force them to abandon the most important things.
Less impressionable fatalist believers. They are less likely to listen to national signs and, moreover, do not go to the soothsayers. They have always and for all the “Will of God” that allows you to safely endure any trials and failures. This approach has a certain therapeutic effect. Therefore, believers are less prone to stress and depression. We will talk about the benefits of such fatalism later.
Logical fatalist combines the rationality of our era and the idea of fate, laid down by our ancestors. It is difficult to call this variety a classic fatalist, since such a person believes in a causal relationship, not an intervention of higher powers. For example, someone will have a genetic mutation that will be passed on to descendants, partially defining their lives. On the one hand, this can be considered the will of fate. On the other hand, the mechanisms of mutation are absolutely natural, as a result of a wrong lifestyle, or the influence of mutagens. A rational-looking fatalist will try to understand the causes of the event, and not shift the responsibility to a higher power. He is sure that fate is determined by the previous affairs of a person.
How to recognize a fatalist
Regardless of the species, all fatalists are united by faith in the ordination of events. Therefore, the phrases nakshaltt "so destined", "means, so it should have happened," "such a fate", now and then will be from them. This mainly determines their inertia and indecision. Why do something yourself, if the higher forces have long decided everything? It is better to just go with the flow and not worry about anything. On the one hand, such a worldview alienates a person from success, depriving his leadership qualities. On the other hand, moderate fatalism noticeably calms the nerves, saving a person from depression and unnecessary worries. So, the fatalist has its pros and cons, which will be discussed in the next section.
Good or bad to be a fatalist
At first glance, it is bad. On the second - too. But, if you look more closely, then the fatalist is not so difficult to live, which allows us to talk about some of the advantages of this type of thinking.
Advantages of the fatalists
A person with a fatalist's worldview is much less nervous compared to those who shoulder the burden of responsibility. He subconsciously blames external forces for all his failures and failures. Such a person prefers to adapt, rather than deal with the circumstances. Psychologically, it calms down, because it removes the active role and any responsibility from a person.
Anyone who gratefully accepts all the events, less likely to fall into depression. In this, fatalism wins over proactivity. But, probably, only in this. In all other respects, such thinking makes a person passive and helpless, unable to withstand any difficulties.
Fatalist disadvantages
First of all, the fatalist very often gives up in a situation that is basically solvable. Instead of showing a bit of perseverance, he simply retreats. Thereby, giving the victory to another. On the contrary, the one who shows dedication, methodically following the intended route, is able to achieve success even in the initially losing situation.
Second, the unshakable confidence of the fatalist in his future can play a cruel joke with him and his surroundings. The story is full of examples of people who hoped for a happy ending and not properly prepared at the crucial moment, for which they paid dearly. Among them are the Roman Emperor Guy Julius Caesar, the Swedish king Gustav III, the Dutch director Theodore Van Gogh and many others.
The third disadvantage of the fatalists is related to their superstition. Since they are convinced of the nature of the future, they are trying with all their might to recognize him, often becoming victims of scam artists. Probably, there are things that show phenomenal accuracy of predictions, but, nevertheless, their main mass turns out to be charlatans. The latter at the expense of fatalists and live, sometimes inspiring them completely reckless speculation.
How to behave with a fatalist
Fatalist can be perceived as it is, or try to remake it. In the first case, he will feel comfortable, and in the second - most likely, will include psychological protection. But through rational and logical reasons, it can be gradually re-educated. For example, to explain that bad omens are the fruit of human imagination. Or prove that perseverance can achieve more than passivity. It is better to demonstrate this with your own example or with the biography of someone who enjoys authority with him.
If fatalism borders on pessimism, then it will be more difficult to communicate with such a person. He not only believes in the prediction of the future, but is also convinced of the negativity of the upcoming events. This phenomenon occurs not only among individuals. A number of sects propagate the end of the world, which is why tens, hundreds and even thousands of their followers live in a state of apathy. Contact with them is not only unpleasant, but sometimes even dangerous.
How to raise a fatalist
To begin with, fatalists are not born. This type of thinking is shaped by the environment. If parents and other relatives do not “brainwash” their child with excessive faith in the ordainedness of the future, then he himself will not begin to think so. The education of the fatalist begins with the formation of an appropriate mental attitude. This happens in families that are characterized by heightened superstitiousness or religiosity.
When a person from childhood gets used to the fact that nothing depends on him, then with age this belief only becomes stronger. After all, the principle of feedback works with almost no misfires. Everyone gets what they believe. If a child is inculcated with self-reliance and proactivity, then there will not even be talk about fatalism. This is also not to overdo it, because excessive responsibility can lead a person to depression. The child should be explained that not everything depends on him, but there is almost always a chance of success.
The fatalist turns out to be right in those cases when he calls his calling or a successful combination of circumstances as fate. This approach is justified. After all, when a person is engaged in what he has inclinations for, he often succeeds. Similarly, with the search for friends, or love. Both cannot be thought out, they appear themselves when the time comes.
