What The Stars (Don’t) Foretell
Boy or girl? Will I get that job? Will I pass the test?
We all have this deep desire to know what the future has in store for us. And many of us believe that it’s all pre-ordained. That it’s written in the stars. You’ve probably heard of some astrologer or face reader who people flock to, to get answers to their questions about their future. I am guessing at some time in our lives, we have all succumbed to the temptation and tried to get answers to our questions about what lies ahead.
On a recent visit to Greece, I made the trip from Athens to Delphi, to see the ruins there. I was fascinated when I heard about the Oracle of Delphi. Our guide there told us all about how the Oracle was a priestess who made predictions. It was believed that people went to the God Apollo to get answers to their questions, and he answered through the Oracle. Over time, as the prophecies came true, the legend of the Oracle of Delphi began to grow. People would come and give expensive gifts to the Oracle to get answers to questions about health, wealth and what the future had in store. And then the guide told us something interesting. In the writings of the Oracle of Delphi, there were no punctuation marks. None at all. So when parents who were expecting a child asked if it would be a boy or a girl, the response would be something like “boy not girl”. As you can see, depending on where you put the comma, the prediction changes. Interesting, isn’t it?
And that’s what Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, explained to the people. He said the prophecies are what they are, but we have the power to add the punctuation marks that determine the future. His message was simple. We control our own destinies. The Oracle might make a prediction. But we add the punctuation marks that make it come true. We provide the meaning.
That’s a powerful thought. And a powerful philosophy for life. Our fascination with wanting to know our future hasn’t changed over the years. We want to know what the future looks like for our careers, our businesses, our lives. We find ourselves automatically drawn to that astrologer’s column in the newspaper. We want to know what the stars foretell. Chances are, the punctuation marks continue to be missing. Remember, you have the power to write your own future.
One of the guiding principles in my life is this simple line: “If it is to be, it is up to me.” That has been such an empowering self-belief. We all need to remind ourselves that our future is in our hands. It’s a belief that helps us take ownership of our lives, our destinies. It stops us
from looking for people to blame. Or for excuses. Once you tell yourself ‘If it is to be, it is up to me’, you begin to become the master of your own destiny. And that’s how it should be.
The Oracle or the astrologer might make a prediction about your life. But you have the power to put in the punctuation that will determine what will be. Good line to remember then.
If it is to be, it is up to me.
Prakash Iyer is an author, speaker and leadership coach and former MD of Kimberly Clark Lever
