Does everything truly happen for a reason?

One of the common spiritual comments made quite often is that everything happens for a reason. I know that people say it to feel better and to not feel like a victim. During my years of being a spiritual life coach and listening to many clients stories, I started to realize that everything that happens does not have a divine or spiritual reason. Sometimes it is literally that stuff does happen for whatever reason. Or sometimes, it is simply cause and effect.

What do I mean by cause and effect. For example, if a person is stressed, smokes, eat bad,etc they may have a heart attack. Yes it is a wake up call but it is a cause and effect situation. Bad habits can cause health issues. It is that simple. There is no big spiritual awakening other than making healthier choices.

Another example is if a person cheats on their spouse, they might end up in divorce. I had clients ask why won't their spouse forgive them. Yes there is emotional reasons for cheating and not just the cheater being a jerk. Still it is cause and effect. A person who cheats may end up divorced.

I have had my share of clients spend their lives in emotional pain because they are stuck hoping and searching to find a divine reason for their pain or suffering. Some people become frozen and won't move forward in their life because they want some grand explanation of " why ". The need to understand " why " can make a person an emotional prisoner.

What I tell my clients that if there is a divine reason for an event that has happened in their life, the answer is not going to be found by standing still, analyzing and waiting for it. A person has to walk their path with faith and without fear. If there is a reason to be discovered, it is along the path.

We must keep on moving and be willing to be vulnerable and aware so that we can learn what we need to learn. Often looking for a reason is also passive and an easy way out. Be willing to live, trust, learn, risk and not be stuck is the only way to really have a healthy life. Things will happen to all of us. Some terrible things will happen. The reason for it won't lessen the pain but healing will. We live on a planet with 7 billion people. There will be accidents and coincidences. It is easier to live and accept that life comes at us fast versus being stuck looking for great meanings to everything.