Staying alive!

From an evolutionary perspective all we are trying to do is survive by adapting to environment around us. All living species reproduce so that their genes propagate. Do we really control things around us or just react in best possible way in order to survive? This is probably true from a higher lever perspective. But individual lives become extremely complicated when we go to a much lower level. How modern human beings are leading (?) their lives – survive, make choices/decisions, adapt/react to environment. Is there anything such as fate? Or everything around you is controllable? What is “Karma”? Or it is nothing. What guides our life?

Where we go in life is a highly non-linear function of may things such as
"fate/luck, emotions-love/hate/anger/happiness/sorrow/jealousy, hope/optimism, natural abilities/talent, brain/intelligence, heart/mind, senses, instincts, intuitions, environment, dreams, expectations, obligations, upbringing/sanskar, company, qualities - character/honesty/ sincerity/integrity/hardwork/vision/passion/ambition/motivation/obsession, opportunity, freedom, flexibility, external guidance, urgency, blunders, hobbies, habits, and many more and their opposites"