I've heard so many people say the same thing; or alternatively, "I didn't choose to come here."

Oh, but you did -- and you will again. Newton's clients said that there's no apprehension from souls about their next life; on the contrary, they all look forward to it because it's their means of evolving, and because it's all a big, fun adventure.

The gist of it is that our mission here on Earth to overcome fear and its outgrowths, i.e., hatred and anger, as well as develop our capacity for love and compassion, show courage, gain knowledge about ourselves, seize opportunities that offer themselves to us and go with the flow. Stagnation = bad. Change = good.