I can relate to the idea of opening to the unexpected. Every day brings something a beauty if you are looking around. But I really am not comfortable with complete surrender to fate – “cast my fate to the wind” approach. I feel one of my reasons for being in the world is to help the earth and perhaps other social causes using my talents. I look around and I see that the earth is sick and it is the place we live.
To get certain things – a fulfilling career, better income and a mate won’t just happen. It requires consistent effort. Getting these things is no guarantee of well being as this site will make clear. But in our culture, you sort of have to go out and get these things or accept what gets handed to you which may not be very pretty. Of course you could deliberately seek an awful life experience as a way to develop mindfulness and gain enlightenment and progress many lifetimes just like that.