There’s an old Latin proverb that says, “What you think of yourself is much more important than what others think of you.” So true, because it is your thoughts and your words that will have the biggest impact on your future success.
Luck is the residue of design. Accurate or not? We often make assumptions that someone else’s success is based on luck rather than the hard work of preparation. Of course the lottery winner has done little more than purchase a ticket. However, some might posit that their series of numbers or specific rituals are part of their potentially winning process. Do you believe your raffle ticket will be selected or are you the person claiming to never be a winner?
According to Richard Wiseman, Ph.D., and author of “The Luck Factor”, believe it or not, luck is not a matter of chance. In fact, experts suggest that there are specific things you can do to enhance your luck quotient.
1. Speak Up- Before beginning your day, stand in front of the mirror and say aloud, “This is my lucky day!” Thinking about something makes you consider it, but hearing it actually makes you believe it.
2. Smile- A 10-year study on the nature of luck shows that “lucky” people smile twice as often as “unlucky” people. Maintaining an open body posture, with arms uncrossed and direct eye contact, indicates approachability.
3. Say Hello- You could be in the right place at the right time. Begin a conversation with someone you would bit typically approach at the gym, at work or while waiting on a line.
4. Visualize Your Luck- Before your biggest hurdle of the day, close your eyes, relax and visualize yourself as lucky. Think about the people, sights and sounds you will encounter and imagine a welcoming, successful outcome.
5. Make a Phone Call- Studies have shown that lucky people usually have more “long-lasting” attachments, more old friends, than unlucky people. Contact a former classmate, old friend or someone you have not spoken to in the last 6-months. Reconnection on a regular basis enlarges your spheres of influence.
6. Make a List– Focus on all of the good things that have happened to you in the previous 24-hours. “Unlucky” people allow failure to throw them off course, whereas “lucky” people force themselves to concentrate on the positive, no matter what.
• How lucky are you on a scale of 1-10? • Select 1-step daily that you will incorporate into your customary practices • Which actions were most successful? • Share your results
©2014 Maureen Weisner