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Good or Back Luck?

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No one is lucky all of the time, but there’s no doubt that some people or families of people tend to be luckier than others. It could be playing bingo or euchre. Because it is never me, I don’t think it is fair.

I figure I’m only lucky 40% or less of the time. Many of those people I know are lucky 60% of the time.

A few days ago I spilled my Pepsi dowsing my Shaw remote controller. None of the buttons were responding of course. I was anxious to resume watching the show “Breathe” on Netflix. It was too late to phone Shaw Cable so I decided to solve the problem myself.

I pried apart the two halves of the remote then removed the circuit board and finally the rubber inlay with the rubber buttons. I cleaned off the rubber section (sticky from the Pepsi) with an alcohol/ethanol solution. I reassembled the remote, tried it on the controller and TV set and everything worked as before. I got lucky with a problem for a change.

There was the time when relocating from Toronto to Wasaga Beach I thought of doing something far different. I enrolled in Casino Rama’s ‘Blackjack’ program. I earned my certification and so was hired by the Casino on a look-see basis. I was the dealer of a Blackjack table for four shifts when the floor manager sat me done for a review.

He explained that each table brought in much more money than it gave out to the those playing Blackjack. He said, “Your table was taking in less than 50%. I watched you as the dealer and saw nothing wrong.” He concluded I was bringing bad luck to the casino and couldn’t be kept on.

One person I know stopped buying tickets for the big lotteries and went for the leaner payout provincial one. It wasn’t long before he won a reasonable payout on this lottery.

I thought of some people I knew who were considered lucky and so I examined their mindset. They basically appeared more optimistic than myself and frequently took risks where I was too hesitant.
I came across an editorial by Martin Seligman. He was the founder of positive psychology who once wrote, “Optimists endure the same storms in life as pessimists.” Somehow they are better at weathering these situations and often appear better off because of it.

The article went on to explain how it also affected good luck. Research showed that this set of people create their own good fortune by seeing hidden opportunities, trusting themselves and taking bold action.

It’s not as easy as it sounds – at least for me but I decided to read about the basic tips and strategies to improve my chances.

  1. Lucky people rely more on intuition or ‘sixth’ sense.
  2. They are prepared to take a risk. The lucky breaks nearly always stem from brave action. They aren’t luck at all. Nothing worthwhile is ever created without a risk.
  3. They expect good things to happen. In the ‘law of attraction’ their beliefs about the future have a way of making it happen.
  4. They see the glass half full – not about what happens but how it is interpreted.
    5. They embrace failure as inevitable. No one is lucky all the time. We all have setbacks.
  5. They hang out with other lucky people, the most crucial factor to future luck. Let’s face it, the people we spend time together with will impact our outlook on life.

In my inner circle of friends it is a mix of enthusiasm bordering on strong self-images along with those who are more the reserved and inquisitive types. How could I possibly tell some that their enthusiasm is pissing some of us off and that they should look for another group to hang with.

Following this program you may emerge better off. And so it is with luck. You may not be able to control the economy, the weather, the stock market or the universe, but research shows that you can create your own good fortune.

Good luck! Not that you need it … just make it happen.

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