That is a truly thought-provoking question, and both scenarios present their own unique anxieties. The fear of having our lives shaped by things outside of our control is a fear of helplessness and powerlessness, knowing that no matter how hard we try, factors like genetics, chance encounters, or global events can profoundly change our path. On the other hand, the idea that our lives are shaped entirely by things within our control can be equally scary, as it places the full weight of responsibility and blame on our own shoulders. This is the fear of regret the knowledge that every missed opportunity and every failure is solely our own fault because we could have simply chosen differently.