Do We Control Our Fate?

'I'm sorry, kiddo, I really am. You have a good soul, and I hate giving good people bad news. Oh, don't worry about it. As soon as you step outside that door, you'll start feeling better. You'll remember you don't believe in any of this fate crap. You're in control of your own life, remember?' (The Matrix)

A lot of times, when speaking to clients, I come face to face with the 'Illusion of Control'. People often prefer to cut back on additional insurance expenses, or don't want to fill out the health declaration, claiming 'it won't happen to me'.

I understand that people aren't always rationally convinced, and that emotions sometimes do a better job. Daniel Kahneman wrote ' We are prone to overestimate how much we understand about the world and to underestimate the role of chance in events.'

As an insurance agent, I can tell you with certainty that things happen, whether you plan for them or not.

When I studied for my insurance exams, the instructor told us that 'one in 5 people will die before they reach 60'. We also know now that the average life expectancy for babies born today are 82 for boys and 84 for girls. The Israel Cancer Association website states that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, in Israel and abroad. Every year about 5000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Israel. It also states that in 2012, 3139 people were diagnosed with invasive colon and rectum cancer. 1453 Jewish men, 1274 Jewish women, 131 Arab men, 126 Arab women and the rest are 'others' (non-Arab Christians and those without a religious classification). 1 in 3 people will require long-term care after they turn 75.

Don't worry though. Once you finish reading this post you'll remember you don't believe in fate. You control your life, remember?