I’ve been thinking a lot about luck lately. Personally I feel like I’ve had a lot of luck and good fortune in my life. I’ve had exciting jobs, lived in exciting places, been able to help those who needed me and had the wisdom to not when it was right to do so.
But is luck really luck or is it more about us? Is it more about every thought and action we engage in every step of our journey? If you’re born lucky, isn’t it more that you’re born optimistic?
If you think about the ‘unlucky’, you may see a trend. Do they expect to be unlucky?
Perhaps they see an interesting job and they think ‘if only’ (if they’re even looking, most are too caught up complaining about their circumstances to find time to actually change them). When I see an interesting job posted, I check it out. Sometimes, I even get the job! Is that lucky? No, that is just putting myself out there with the attitude that I have nothing to lose and it’s such a good opportunity I should at least try.
In fact, if I think about every single good thing that has ever happened to me, I can trace the steps back to the very intentions, thoughts and actions that got me there. This is not luck, this is simply not expecting the worse.
Not expecting the worse. For some, a hard habit to break. But if you knew that your expectation of the worse is exactly what is bringing it upon yourself, then would you consider a mind thought change? Is it worth a try?
I’ve posed this question to friends. I get the normal hole poking in my theory. ‘So a person with cancer had a bad attitude so they got cancer?’ Of course not. Perfectly nice and positive people get cancer all the time, but I can guarantee you that their experience of the disease is going to be completely different than someone who feels bad luck has been bestowed upon them. They may even heal faster and more completely. Cancer for some, is actually seen as a gift, a life changer that puts everything into perspective for them, something that breathes new life into their personal relationships and makes their life real, meaningful and something to fight for. Would I wish cancer upon someone? Of course not. Has it had a positive influence on some of its sufferers? Indeed it has.
Every time I find myself in a situation that is seemingly intolerable, I think of other types of lives on this planet. I think of the people in Syria, or those losing their homeland to mining and industry. I think of the babies being born addicted to prescription medications. The list is endless. If you’re reading this, you are among the most fortunate and you are among the most blessed. How lucky is that? More lucky than you could even dream of.
Wishing you a most gracious week, every single thought of it.