What's Luck Got to Do With It?

The concept of luck is found in diverse cultures though its form and source varies. In Western Africa, juju is an aura or other magical property related to luck. In the far east, Qi, or ch'i, is the life force or spiritual energy whose flow can be manipulated to bring luck. In Hindu and Buddhist religions, luck or karma, in essence is the result of a causative action. Greek, Meso-American, and Celtic pagans believed luck was written "in the stars". Christians have only to "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find."

Given the wide-spread acceptance that prosperity can be attained through metaphysical means, I should probably give it more focus. Being a control-freak, I never factored luck into the equation for success. I simply did not trust in it. Thinking back though, I was most "lucky" when I had already mentally accepted a favorable outcome of a desired goal. When I said to myself "I will", I did. When I said "I can't", I couldn't. When I had clear focus on what I wanted, I achieved. When I thought "It will work out", luck stepped in to save the day.

Unfortunately, the older I've gotten, the more pragmatic I've become. My reality has become manifested by my limited beliefs. When one is young and tries new things, expectations tend to be positive because real disappointments have yet to be experienced. There are no points of comparison, just youthful optimism. A verse in "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical Les Miserables sums it up:

Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted

Being fearful is the antithesis to creating an aura of luck. It is imagining the worst, not visualizing the best. Negative scenarios can become immobilizing: What if my business or venture fails? What if I lose a lot of money? What will my family and friends think of me? What if I'm not good enough? Am I too old?

My greatest challenge is retraining my mind to think beyond artificial boundaries that keep me from achieving career happiness. It is uncovering in my heart of hearts what it is that I want to do with my life. I think juju, ch'i, karma, a good astrological reading, and religion work by channeling positive energy into thoughts & actions that in turn, attract good fortune. I hope this blog works for me in the same way. I will also try prayer, meditation, feng-shui, practice good deeds, and perhaps wear a charm bracelet because I can use all the luck I can get.