The way I think I want my life to go has evolved over time. It changes as a reflection of my growth. I can choose the course of the moment
I don't think I can control everyone & events around me. Working toward my desired goal is a choice and I can hope to see the fruit of my effort. Its more important to me to have faith. We can't control tsunamis tornadoes or hurricanes - external events.
Some people think they can control their health until they get sick or bear a deformed child or a drunk driver hits them head on. Our efforts alone are not enough to guarantee a specific outcome. We have a choice in our response to events & people. Perhaps we are not masters of our destiny but contributors?
I agree that we don't expend energy on things that are not important to us, at least on some level. I spend time doing yard work because there is some level importance to me, whether I like ding the task or not.
If I want to be a famous entertainer, no matter how hard I work at it, no guarantee it will ever happen.
However I certainly can help shape my destiny!

All the external bs aside - yes I think we can master the destiny of our soul, of our spiritual condition because nothing earthly can squelch that!

dehavena: I think there's a certain amount of truth in that. We can't control everything in our lives, but if we're focused on what we want, what we want has a better chance of happening to us. All we have to do is KNOW what we want and WANT what we want. A continually burning desire has to be there. And we have to know that what we want brings us ENJOYMENT.