Is There Destiny, Luck, or Opportunity? (By Kit Gupta)

The news about my boss Andy giving his two-week notice spread like wild fire in the department. Everyone who reported to him was apprehensive about who and what the next guy would be like. Will the new guy be better or worse than Andy? Everybody was concerned about how this change would affect them, including other managers that worked with Andy. Two weeks after Andy was gone, as I was working on the production floor, one of the technicians came up to me and said, "So I heard you have a new boss now."

"Do I?" I inspected some plastic parts coming off a molding machine and replied softly.

"You didn't get the news yet? You and I will both be working for Shaun now," he said as he scrunched up his face in discontent.

"Is it that bad?" I inquired.

"I don't know how much you've worked with him, but he doesn't deserve to be a manager," he added, "The stars were lined up just right for him and the timing of it was right. That's the only reason why he became our boss."

While speaking to an event at Trinity University in Dublin, Ireland, I posed a question to my young audience. I asked if every single thing that they had in their life till date was because of their own action. Some agreed, while most nodded their head with disapproval. Upon continuing my discussion, some of the audience described that they're fortunate to have somethings in their life that they just got and never had to work for it. When I inquired what they thought gave them those things that they're so appreciative of, they used the words luck, destiny, and opportunity.

I want to share what I think about luck, destiny, or opportunity using the personal experience I shared in the beginning with you about my boss Andy and his departure. Andy made a conscious decision to quit and move somewhere else. So Andy created what he wanted through his action. However, Andy's action also resulted in creating a vacant spot in the department. It'll be foolish to say that Shawn intended that.

Did Shawn get the position because of his own action?

One may argue that just like Andy, Shawn made a conscious decision of taking the position, so he created what he wanted through his action. Yes. But one intricate component of this scenario is that the decision made by one person (Andy) impacted what the other person (Shawn) got. That is what we call is destiny, luck, or opportunity.

Every one of us experiences this phenomenon in our personal relationship or professional career at some point of time in our life. Think of experiences in your life or someone you know. That relationship that you so deeply desired with someone, but it never worked out (or when it did workout flawlessly). The job or promotion in your career that you so yearned for and worked hard for, never came to fruition (or when it turned out exactly the way you intended it to). Undeniably, there is some lack of control that we all experience with people and events in every scenario of our life. But it is this same lack of control that plays a significant role in the decisions we make (or don't) which ultimately dictates what we get (or don't) in all domains of our life. This unknown or "out-of-our-control" aspect of our life is destiny, luck, or opportunity. However there is key component that keeps our destiny, luck or opportunity alive. Only when we act does our destiny, luck, or opportunity has a possibility to work as well. All beings (plants, animals, you and I) at every level of evolution follow this principle. If all the ingredients necessary for the growth of a seed are available to it, however, if it does not do what it must do to sprout, irrevocably, it stays in the same state it was in. Whatever you choose to call "it": destiny, luck, or opportunity without your action, the fate of your luck, destiny, or opportunity is dead.

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The Lucky Person (In A Self Made Way)

Consistent winners, what are they? Indeed, that is a question worth asking. Thomas Jefferson once had a quote about creating luck through working hard. Sure, more than difficult work is required to create a winner, certainly. But, winning requires its share of work to be a consistent one. For one thing, to be able to repeatedly win, you must understand the pitfalls and mistakes to avoid through temporary failure before consistent winning. Some will fully understand my meaning and some will have to ultimately get it, but, a real loser depends on initial luck and quits if that initial effort ends up a failure. That is the wrong way to approach life and existence. Indeed, consistent loss is depending on initial luck fully, consistent winning is initial failure, understanding what you did wrong, and then getting it right next time.

With the above said, even Michael Jefferey Jordan, the great basketball player did not make his high school team on the first try, but he went on to become a basketball champion anyway with legendary status in the sport of basketball. Indeed, understanding failure and then correcting your efforts is the best way to go, not depending on initial good fortune to get you through without being able to repeat it genuinely.

Indeed, the biggest failure is failure to perceive what makes a genuine and repeatable winner more than the "good fortune" itself. This is even true in a wasted poker game, also. After all, some of the greatest poker champions lost a lot of tournaments before they developed their winning styles after all. So, the biggest loss in anything is the perception of the lesson or lack of perception of the lesson in the mind, between the ears, or whatever perceives the reality of the situation at the time the situation is happening. Sure, we can all take action, but the proper action is what helps us win, and the improper action is that which makes us genuinely fail. With that said, proper experience is always better than initial lucky success on the first try without experience, however "good" the success may initially feel or seem. So, "getting off easy at first" is almost always never a good thing when considering genuine and repeatable success. After all, where do you think the saying "He who really succeeds first understands it at last" or this one "We all love to win, but who loves to train?" That is my big point in this article, we make our own ultimate luck, luck is never really given, even when we seem to succeed "without effort". Ultimately to be repeatable, success must fully be understood.

So, I end with a quote about this phenomenon from the great singer Johnny Mathis:

"I'm really pretty much a regular person who just got very lucky. I got involved early on in my life with a lot of wonderful people who helped me and guided me. I found out what I really liked to do and that was sing. And I had a lot of help to accomplish most of my goals."

That quote seems like a minor quote, but it shows the reality of what I am writing about just fine, because real and sustained success comes through understanding, and absorbing lessons that work. Do not just believe me, understand me here.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Lucky-Person-(In-A-Self-Made-Way)&id=9834997

Boundless and Free

Every now and then it is good to evaluate if you feel that you are living a lucky life. If the answer to that question is yes, than by all means continue living the path you are on. However, if you answered no to feeling lucky, then perhaps it is time to rethink the direction you are going. Luck is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as "a force that brings good fortune or adversity" When the majority of life events that happen feel positive, then a person feels lucky. On the other hand, a person may feel unlucky when more bad than good things happen. However, this is a very shallow way of viewing situations. I like the title of Tom Brokaw's book, which was written after he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He named it: "A lucky Life Interrupted". The book title implies that for the most part, life has been lucky, but now there is something going on that is unpleasant to deal with, that feels unlucky but, that his luck will return. But perhaps this cancer scare actually was the luckiest thing that ever happened to him.

Why do I say this? Because I believe we are here to wake up to our spiritual selves and to transmute any notion that we are simply these bodies, minds and personalities as a myth we were taught that is not true. We are vast and expansive beings who existed before birth and will continue to exist beyond death. We are here on Earth to open both our hearts and our minds to our greater consciousness. Perhaps the gift of cancer helped Tom Brokaw to connect more deeply with his family and to find more of who he is beyond his work. Loss of health, wealth, friends, fame or intellect can be a blessing rather than a curse. When we are able to shout to the universe as spiritual teacher Matt Kahn says "Use me as your vessel of consciousness. Light and love and take all that you want" we are putting aside our definitions and ideas of what we want or need to feel or look good, and instead open to our infinite selves, trusting the process of the universe.

When I shift my consciousness to this larger lens, I am able to reframe bad things as gifts from the soul. Matt Kahn said in an inspirational talk, "Adversity comes into our lives to take and take and take. So that once you have nothing to lose, spiritual awakening has the room to move into you and wake up the entire universe within the space of your body." In this frame of mind, adversity or bad luck is not seen as bad, but rather as a benevolent conduit to enable a person to let go and open up to the magnificence of their soul self which is beyond how many houses they own, degrees they have, how perfect their body looks, or who they are connected to.

We are here to be free, not trapped in this human illusion of life. For us to be free, we have to be willing to lose everything we have to the spiritual fire of our divine consciousness. We must release our bondage and attachment to external means of identification like money, health, relationships and pride associated with self, family, friends, work and service. Who we truly are is greater than all these and just like the wave returns to the ocean, our soul returns to the sea of consciousness, boundless, wild and free.

Our lives may be far luckier than we ever realized if we could simply see through our soul's lens. Next time you hear yourself saying "Oh darn, how unlucky!" remember to give thanks for the blessing of another false part of your true self being purged away and celebrate the opportunity to release what is not really you. You deserve to live a lucky life and this includes both good fortune and adversity.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Boundless-and-Free&id=9902177

Everyone Loves A Winner

Winning is a habit, and so is the other thing of losing. Genuinely simple as an affirmation made enough times, we can all raise ourselves and our vibrations up if we give ourselves a chance to do that. For genuine winning is simply the habit of never quitting until you genuinely do succeed.

This will be a classic motivational article in many ways, with an emphasis on habit and affirmation. Also, this will spotlight the realities of the habits of winning and losing also.

Winning is as simple as a habit, it is not a fixed situation in any way. It does not depend on where you start, where you are, and how much behind you are or even how much advantage you have. It is a habit or to put it another way that is almost the same, it is an affirmation.

The biggest losses come to those who quit. For those who master, the biggest gains come and come always. There is not any real loss for them, even starting over is looked at as an advantage.

The best winners are the winners who depend on mastery instead of luck. Sure, luck can be at best preparation meeting opportunity. But genuine mastery despite temporary failure is even better than that always.

To get beyond breaking even or almost, you must master yourself fully. That is the key to greatness. Without that key, all doors are locked. Skill is developed, it is not come by luckily. Hence, the seeming fault with the definition of luck that it is preparation meeting opportunity. Preparation is a form of mastery, and opportunity can only be noticed by those who are prepared for it.

Winning is everything when it is genuine, but is nothing when it is a genuinely lucky break of chance as described by anyone who is unfortunate enough to be lucky in the accepted sense. Mastery is the best way to go indeed.

Winning is repeatable when mastery is involved. Loss is mandatory when luck is depended on. Think about those two sentences, and you will see that they are really true, honest and real. Tragedy is quitting before mastery is reached. Happiness is being a master. Sure, that sounds simple until you realize the emotional frustration of loss and think: "What then? what now? I did my best!" Well in that case, it will take a little or a lot more to win through mastery because when you master instead of quit, that is when your best is good enough.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Everyone-Loves-A-Winner&id=8562425

Is Anyone Disadvantaged From Getting Rich?

From my own experience of interacting with poor people, the complaint and excuse is always lack of opportunity or luck. Many poor people believe that riches and wealth is only a matter of luck, and those who are rich are only lucky to be so. Let me correct this idea that opportunity to be wealthy or rich is limited, no, the opportunity to be rich in this world is unlimited and open to all who are willing to exploit them. The opportunities are so limitless that anyone, male or female, black or white, from any race or ethnic origin can rise from the poorest of the poor to become one of the richest men on the face of the earth.

A look at the universe will show you the riches of God's creation, the vastness of the earth will confirm to you that there are too many opportunities yet untapped. The universe contains about one billion galaxies of stars. Each galaxy contains more than one billion stars, the sun to which the earth revolves belongs to the galaxy of stars called the Milky Way. This Milky Way galaxy is said to contain about one hundred billion stars, and the sun of our solar system is just one of the stars. There are mega stars, far bigger than the sun. This star we call the sun is having a solar system of which nine planets including the earth revolve, the earth is so tiny in size compared to the bigness of the sun. The sun is said to be more than a million times bigger than the earth. All these are in the universe created by God. Why did God create all these? To show man the vastness of resources and opportunities.

The earth which is so small compared to the sun is so big that it contains mountains and oceans and seas, and vast land with rich contents. The plants, animals and fish on earth continues to increase and multiply. Everything is on the increase, as man's population is increasing so are animals, fish, and plants. Knowledge to exploit and venture into production of agriculture and all other sectors of human needs are daily increasing and everyday, man is doing great things on the earth. The opportunities are increasing for everyone who can tap into it to become rich. Please note this, the opportunities are not decreasing but increasing everyday, and the floor is opening up for anyone who thinks he can. I know you can, that is why you are reading this. If one area of business is saturated, there are so many other areas that is waiting for people to step in and become as rich as they can ever imagine. No man is ever disadvantaged due to lack of opportunities or luck. Wealth is not a product of luck but a product of discovery.

Anyone who is bold to see these opportunities and tap into them will be rewarded with wealth. The good news is this, there is no limit to how much money you can make, whether you are young or old, male or female, weak or strong, handsome or ugly, bodily disabled or anyhow, you can amass wealth more than you can ever imagine. If you will believe and accept this theory then go ahead to discover your wealth through exploiting the opportunities open to you

http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Anyone-Disadvantaged-From-Getting-Rich?&id=9502318

Luck Has Nothing to Do With It

That's right: Luck has nothing to do with it, as some allegedly "fortunate" people say. And in this case, "it" doesn't just mean confidence.

It means life. Life as you'd like it to be. And the life that we see someone leading, when we immediately consider them "lucky".

See, whenever someone seems to reap all the rewards in life, we tend to think of them as "fortunate" or "lucky", yeah?

Well, would you believe me if I told you that ascribing "luck" to anyone or anything is potentially harmful to us?

What exactly is luck anyway? Many people would probably define it as something like, "when things coincidentally fall out to your advantage". But is it really just that?

And more importantly, would we need more than merely coincidence to receive the gifts of life?

(SPOILER ALERT: Yes. Yes it does.)

When Michael Jackson recorded the "Thriller" album, did it sell millions because of "luck"? Or was it because he had spent his entire childhood and adolescence working his derrière off, meticulously honing his craft and gathering a hugely talented team of producers, songwriters and A&R people behind him?

When Steve Jobs released the first iPhone, did it become hugely successful because of "luck"? Or was it because he dared to take chances, push the envelope, fulfil the needs that his customers had -- even ones they didn't realize they had -- and amass an army of professional developers and marketers behind him?

Sure, Michael Jackson was probably as close to being the proverbial natural talent as they come. And Steve Jobs, according to many, was a natural visionary who simply thought outside the box and dreamt big.

But what good would that have done them if they hadn't put in the work, insisted upon their dreams, and kept at it for years and years?

Luck has nothing to do with it because "it"doesn't happen without taking action.

Here's another thing:

Have you ever seen "Forrest Gump"? If not, it's a fine movie, and you should see it at least once.*

Forrest Gump, our titular protagonist, is clearly slow-witted, but likeable. And he somehow manages to walk through life and attract all kinds of success and fortune as he cluelessly goes along. Only he never realizes it. Because success and fortune simply doesn't resonate with his humble mind.

Let's pause here for a moment. Now, think about your own life.

Have you ever learned a new word, and then in the following days and weeks you saw and heard that word everywhere?

Or have you ever been unemployed and looked for jobs, and all of a sudden job applications are everywhere?

I know, right?

The key word here is awareness.

Forrest Gump doesn't consciously experience fame and fortune, because his awareness is on a different level. When we're consciously aware of something, we're gonna find it.

Not because there's more of it, but simply because we've become aware of it. Like a hunter who deliberately ignores anything but the potential sights and sounds of his prey.

Luck has nothing to do with it, because what good would all the coincidence in the world do us if we weren't aware of it?

"But wait a minute! What was that thing you said about how ascribing luck to anyone could be "harmful"?"

Yeah, see, that's because it's something that non-fident people tend to do. Which is rarely beneficial.

It's when we're non-fident that we tend to think in terms of "luck" - and "bad luck". Specifically, we tend to think that other people get all the luck, and that we're victims of unfortunate circumstances.

This is a conveniently easy way of thinking, because it takes the responsibility for our lives out of our hands. And for the same reason, it's also a dangerous way of thinking.

But when we allow ourselves to go for the life we want, consistently taking action and raising our awareness will make sure that we get it.

Some people might be born with certain advantages, yes. But imagine how many people never put that advantage to any use. Either because they never see the possibilities and/or because they're simply too shy to act on it.

And now, think of all the famous media persons who obviously wouldn't recognize talent even if it came out of nowhere and took away all their limelight.

Think of all the wealthy corporate leaders who got where they are by being uncompromising, cold as ice, playing the game and doing what's best for the company no matter what.

Think of all the powerful politicians, all the Frank Underwood's of the world, who got to where they are by lying, manipulating, and probably worse.

Really, luck has nothing to do with it. But being aware of our opportunities, and taking consistent action towards them has everything to do with it.

ACTION ITEM:

This week, take up learning something new. Something you've been wanting to get into, only you couldn't find the time (or whatever excuse you made for yourself).

Set aside 1/2 hour every night, Monday through Friday, for working on that thing only. Nothing else. This means, turn off your phone. No phone; no social media or other distractions. Just you and your new challenge.

Getting into this sort of habit will eventually prove to us that luck has nothing to do with it. -- And that practice, consistency, and focus are the keys to accomplishing pretty much anything.

* Yes, I know it's originally a book. So are a lot of great movies.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Luck-Has-Nothing-to-Do-With-It&id=9823659

You Deserve To Be A Winner

Have you ever felt that somebody who wins all the time has their luck working for them? And that their life is nice and easy compared to yours? Haven't we all? But, unfortunately that's not even close to being the truth. The fact is that winning and losing have some things in common: they are both habits. You probably know someone who can't win at the game of life, no matter how many advantages he's given. You also know someone that's the exact opposite. He wins at everything, even though he doesn't seem to have any advantages.

Which of those two would you like to be? The winner! right? If you could just develop these simple habits listed below you'd be amazed at how dramatically you will increase your chances of winning consistently!

1. Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Bound) goals. You can't win if you don't define the goal. Know what you're trying to accomplish. Set clear goals with reasonable deadlines. Create a target that you find motivating and exciting. Choose the target, but be flexible in your approach to achieving the goal. Celebrate all wins! Celebrate each and every milestone achieved! Stay in the energy of gratitude.

2. Develop habits that serve you. Replace the habits that don't serve your goal with the ones that do. Discipline and willpower are in limited supply. Use them to create the habits you need to reach your goals. Once you have a habit, willpower becomes unnecessary. For example, if your goal is to release 30 lbs of body weight, develop healthy eating and exercise habits. If your goal is to find your most compatible soul mate, develop a habit of being open and talking to people you meet. If your goal is to find more leads for your business, be open to going to business networking events!

3. Simplify your life. Our lives are full of things that get in the way. They can be possessions, activities, or even people. Get rid of the junk in your life. Make room for success and minimize the obstacles and distractions you face.

4. Get a mentor. It's true that you can accomplish a lot on your own but you can accomplish much more with a mentor. Odds are that someone has already accomplished your goal. Wouldn't it make sense to get some guidance and advice since you're taking the same journey? There's no reason to reinvent the wheel. Take advantage of the successes and mistakes others made before you, just model their successes and learn from their mistakes!

5. Take full responsibility. You're ultimately responsible for your own success. Even if you have a mentor, it's still your responsibility. Be comfortable with this. It means that you are the one in control.

6. Learn to fail forward. Failing is just getting a result you didn't intend. You may have failed at something, but it does not mean that you are a failure. Failures are opportunities to perfect your approach. The more you fail, and the more you learn from it, the more successful you'll eventually become. Everyone fails. However, it's important not to repeat your failures. Ensure you're learning something each time. Remember! "Every master was once a disaster!"

7. Be wise with how you use your time. Time is the great equalizer. We all have 24 hours each day. Using these hours wisely is the key. Are you spending your time wisely or wasting it? Only you know the answer! The most successful people are those that make the most of their 24 hours.

8. Invest in yourself. More knowledge results in more effective decisions. Invest in educating yourself through books, motivational CDs, seminars and workshops. It's you who is the real asset! But avoid the trap of learning at the expense of actually doing something. Spend a few hours each week learning something that you can apply towards achieving your goals.

9. Persevere. Winners don't quit. You can't lose if you don't quit. Just keep on going! You'll eventually win as long as you're willing to persist. If you quit, you've lost! Build the perseverance habit into your daily life. When you have the urge to quit an activity, keep going until that activity is completed. It might be folding the laundry, cleaning the house, exercising, or working on a report for work. Learn to stick with tasks after you feel the desire to stop. The habit will transfer to other activities!

Winning is the result of having a goal, developing useful habits, and persisting until success is achieved. Winning doesn't take any more work than losing. The work is just different! Begin today to develop the habits you need to win consistently. You Deserve To Be A Winner.

http://ezinearticles.com/?You-Deserve-To-Be-A-Winner&id=9468365

What Is Luck and How Are Hunches Linked to It?

The question is what is luck? Is there such a thing or is it something that results from our response to a hunch? In other words, are we led by some internal power to do something at a specific time that will result in what we might call 'good fortune'? What determines who sits in a seat in a vehicle that crashes and one is killed and the other is not? Or why buy a lottery ticket on the spur of the moment that ultimately wins a prize?

Is it 'luck' as driven by a mystical supernatural force or it simply that it was going to happen and the one experiencing it just happened by chance to be there or to buy the ticket? Over centuries of trying to resolve this issue man has got no closer than that many will risk all to have a chance at being the next one to chance on the right situation at that time.

To answer the questions is to go deeper into the reason why we are here and what happens to each of us during our lives. After my reincarnation and with a strong link to the Spirit of the Universe it is my opinion that everyone is part of a plan. We are like puppets in a massive collection of players and every one of us serves a purpose. That means that what happens to us is part of the overall scene.

We might ask some tough questions in response to our probe into this topic. For instance why would I remember reincarnation when religions don't and others don't concur with it? Some feel they have been around before, others get flashbacks of past lives, still others have no feeling about it whatsoever and they don't believe in life-after-death anyway.

What about a hunch? Is that linked to luck and why are some things we suddenly do without thought can turn us into a genius or a millionaire? Why do some get a hunch to go shoot people in a public place? Or to stay away from something that will result in many being killed.

My link to the Spirit has shown me that it is the very thing we are talking about. It controls our moods, actions, desires, and where we are at any given time. The idea of luck removes the power from God to something that few can relate to but all know exists. If there is a plan in place to bring the world to a point of conclusion than it stands to reason that the players are given the ideas on which they act to bring it about.

We are in an extremely volatile world where anything can happen and bombs are exploding on a daily basis. People are fleeing conflicts and the old systems are failing. This is something written about many centuries past so it is nothing to do with luck or hunches but in my mind is the Spirit of the Universe.

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-Luck-and-How-Are-Hunches-Linked-to-It?&id=9440676

Create Your Own Luck to Become Luckier

How many times have you heard someone say, "Oh they are so lucky!" or "That person always wins. They must have some real luck on their side." Yeah... I'm sure we have all heard these things. I have to agree with you that it does sometimes seem that some people are luckier than the rest of us. Sometimes it also seems like luck has skipped over us and has gone unfairly to the next person. Somehow, that person right over there on the other side of the fence, standing on that greener grass, always seems to be luckier than us, wouldn't you agree?

Well, I have some news for you. It is good news, so I guess in a way, today is our lucky day, right? Well, here it is: Luck doesn't just skip over people and then land on just a few of the 'chosen' ones. Even if our past experiences with luck have led us to believe that luck mostly skips us and only lands on someone else, I'm here to tell you that that phenomenon really isn't true!

I have some more good news... Ready? Life is a do it yourself project. We all have to work very hard to create our own luck. Nobody is delivering luck. Luck is not a pizza. Luck is hard work and thorough preparation meeting opportunity. Period. Nobody is coming to do our hard work for us. And even if someone was coming to do our hard work for us, then that would result in them being better prepared over us when opportunity knocks. And you can bet that they will also be quicker than us to answer that knock. Even worse, this other person will get lucky right under our noses, and I can guarantee you that that will really stink for us.

Now teens, go learn, lead, and lay the way to a better world for all of us. Remember that when we create our own luck, we tend to become luckier. And once again, thanks in advance for all that you do, and all that you will do...

Download 25 Most Powerful Motivational Quotes

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What Is Luck? External Force or State of Mind?

Do you have that person you know that is just always winning things? They always seem to have their name drawn more times than it should. Entering a competition for them normally involves winning. Which begs the question: "Why do some people seem to live a life full of luck whilst others seem to just not?" There seems to be something that separates the lucky from the unlucky.

For a long time, Luck was considered to be an external force only controllable through ritualistic behaviours. These ritualistic behaviours formed the development of the concept of superstitions. This is the reason why some people try to not step on cracks or walk under ladders. In contrast, this is actually far from reality. The reality is far from any external force or act of the divine.

Researchers such as Richard Wiseman have been performing studies into the nature luck for over a decade. Wiseman wanted to ascertain what helped someone to be lucky or unlucky. He studied over 400 people over a 10 year period looking into what they did to create the luck or lack of luck. The crazy thing was that he found, for the most part, people made their own luck, good and bad. While he was interviewing the participants, he found that unlucky people tended to be more anxious and would focus on the specifics of the situation. Lucky people, on the other hand, always seemed to be more relaxed and ready for opportunity to come knocking. There was a definite difference between the two groups!

There is a system in the brain known as the reticular-activating system (RAS) which calculates the importance of incoming data through the senses. We are unable to process all information so some of it is deleted, distorted or generalised to filter out unimportant and unwanted information. When people's attention and intention are on their misfortune, they will filter out situations for them to be lucky. They just won't see it!

The researchers concluded that lucky people were generating their fortune through four key principles:

• Creating and noticing change opportunities

• Made lucky decision by intuition

• Created self-fulfilling prophesies via positive expectations

• Adopted a resilient attitude

Seneca, a famous Roman philosopher, once said "luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." Be open to opportunity and fortune because it will come knocking. This is not based on belief, this is based in hard science!

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-Luck?-External-Force-or-State-of-Mind?&id=9420274

The Various Ways You Can Build Up Your Mental Toughness

Do you subscribe to the school of thought that believes in all or none, say for instance when you talk of mental toughness, do you feel that it is a quality which you either have or you don't have at all? Is it is something that is inborn?

Self Discipline

Well to an extent, you may be true in saying that some people are far better self disciplined than yourself. They are more adept at resisting temptation than you. Well they were not born this way, on the contrary they have sought and found ways to develop their mental toughness and make good use of it when it is really required.

Complete Control

The fact is they were never born to be mentally tough, ordinary folks like you and me have devised ways and means to develop mental toughness and use it when it really matters. Don't just assume, always be in complete control.

The Luck Factor

An oft repeated quote credited to Ignatius goes something like this, "Pray as if God will take care of all; act as if all is up to you." This premise applies to luck as well, people feel that luck has got a whole lot to do with success or failure.

Success

They feel luck has favoured them when they succeed and at times when are unable to succeed they feel luck was against them. It is true that many a successful people are of the view that luck has got some role to play in their success.

Own It

Unlike others they don't wait for good luck at all or worry about bad luck. They go about their tasks and act as if success or failure for that matter is completely within their control. If at all they taste success, they are of the firm opinion that they caused it, and when they do fail they say they caused it too.

Mental Energy

By adopting this approach they refrain from wasting any mental energy about what might happen to them, they are now in a frame of mind to put all their efforts in making things happen. With luck on their side, they are even better off, as it is said that fortune favours the brave.

For Yourself

It is to be clearly understood and remembered that you can never control what luck does for you, but you can surely control what you can go ahead and do for yourself. Refrain from making a lot of choices, the lesser the choices the better for you as all of us have got only a finite store of energy for exercising that all important self-restraint.

Impulsive and Reckless

The more choices we tend to make, the more taxing it gets for our brain, and we start looking for shortcuts. We tend to get impulsive and reckless, by and by we seem to run out of the all important mental energy needed to arrive at smart choices.

Too Many Choices

Too many choices are arch enemies of mental toughness, the same is true for ease and convenience. The decisions that require you to be mentally strong have will power out of the equation.

Final Words

Always remember there would be certain things that would be beyond your control, it is prudent that you stop fussing about them. Letting go of the past is a wise thing to do, while learning from your past mistakes at the same time. Always create as well as celebrate awesomeness, resentment draws massive amounts of energy, that could be better applied elsewhere. Finally recharge your mental batteries by counting your blessings, you have a lot to be thankful for and feel better about that is the best way to toughen up mentally.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Various-Ways-You-Can-Build-Up-Your-Mental-Toughness&id=9399314

What Is Luck?

Luck is considered by many to be a force of nature, coming and going as inevitably as the tide.

A study has found that "lucky" individuals usually posses many intersecting qualities, including extroverted personalities, a lack of anxiety, open-mindedness, and optimism. Each of these plays an important role in one's luck production.

The essence of luck is opportunity, so it follows that the more opportunities one encounters and the more receptive one is to those opportunities, the "luckier" one is. It was found that lucky people smile twice as often as others, and engage in more eye contact than unlucky people do. Such outgoing, extroverted behavior exposes a person to more opportunities due to the increased social interaction. Similarly, open-mindedness allows one to encounter a greater number of unique prospects, and makes one more apt to embrace new opportunities.

Born Lucky

Some birthdays are better bets than others. Scientists don't tend to buy into astrology, yet they've established that certain conditions such as schizophrenia, and even personality traits such as novelty seeking, are linked to birth months. It's not the planets at work per se, but rather subtle influences on fetal brain development due to factors including sleep and wake cycles and the prevalence of viruses that differ from season to season.

Across genders and ages, people born between March and August believe themselves to be luckier, on average, than those born in the colder months of September through February. (Relatedly, summer babies grow up to be more open-minded and less neurotic than winter tots.) May is the luckiest month of all.

Think Lucky

The best opportunities arise when you approach life with a flexible mind-set. See how you can get out of the unlucky column:

If you think this way about: Romantic Relationships

"Here's my checklist. He has to be smart, attractive, and financially secure, subscribe to The New York Times, love to cook, and love dogs."

Try this approach instead: "I don't really have a type. I'm open to anyone as long as he's a good person. I'll know it when I see it."

If you think this way about: Work

"I need to finish this project by 11, team meeting at 12, and lunch at 1, finish that report this afternoon, and I'm home free by 6."

Try this approach instead: "I want to try to accomplish two major things today, but in my downtime, I'm going to explore a few other ideas that could help the company or my career."

If you think this way about: Friendships

"I already have a handful of really wonderful friends. I don't need or have time for anymore."

Try this approach instead: "I love to make new friends, even if it never goes farther than a conversation and being friends on Facebook."

If you think this way about: Errands

"I need to hit the dry cleaner, the bank, and the grocery store. I should be home in time for the game."

Try this approach instead: "I have to get these things done, but I'm not going to rush because I don't really know what to expect or whom I'll meet. It will be interesting to see how it works out."

If you think this way about: Business Meetings

"I'm meeting up with this person to do a deal, not thinking of them as a friend or a potential partner."

Try this approach instead: "I'll accept a meeting with anyone, anytime, because you never know where it might lead-even if its five years down the road."

Lucky and Unlucky people- A comparison

Unlucky people often fail to follow their intuition when making a choice, whereas lucky people tend to respect hunches. Lucky people are interested in how they both think and feel about the various options, rather than simply looking at the rational side of the situation. I think this helps them because gut feelings act as an alarm bell - a reason to consider a decision carefully.

Unlucky people tend to be creatures of routine. They tend to take the same route to and from work and talk to the same types of people at parties. In contrast, many lucky people try to introduce variety into their lives. For example, one person described how he thought of a color before arriving at a party and then introduced himself to people wearing that color. This kind of behavior boosts the likelihood of chance opportunities by introducing variety.

Lucky people tend to see the positive side of their ill fortune. They imagine how things could have been worse. In one interview, a lucky volunteer arrived with his leg in a plaster cast and described how he had fallen down a flight of stairs. I asked him whether he still felt lucky and he cheerfully explained that he felt luckier than before. As he pointed out, he could have broken his neck.

Four principles to help one increase their good fortune:

Principle One: Maximize Chance Opportunities Lucky people are skilled at creating, noticing and acting upon chance opportunities. They do this in various ways, including networking, adopting a relaxed attitude to life and by being open to new experiences.

Principle Two: Listening to Lucky Hunches Lucky people make effective decisions by listening to their intuition and gut feelings. In addition, they take steps to actively boost their intuitive abilities by, for example, meditating and clearing their mind of other thoughts.

Principle Three: Expect Good Fortune Lucky people are certain that the future is going to be full of good fortune. These expectations become self-fulfilling prophecies by helping lucky people persist in the face of failure, and shape their interactions with others in a positive way.

Principle Four: Turn Bad Luck to Good Lucky people employ various psychological techniques to cope with, and often even thrive upon, the ill fortune that comes their way. For example, they spontaneously imagine how things could have been worse, do not dwell on the ill fortune, and take control of the situation.

Unsurprisingly, optimism plays a key role in luckiness, since it strongly affects luck production and luck perception. A study shows that a lucky, optimistic person is far more satisfied with all areas of their lives than an unlucky, pessimistic person. An optimist feels lucky for spotting a silver lining, however gray the cloud... yet a pessimist will curse their luck even in the face of good fortune, because they can't see past the green grass on the other side of the fence.

Fortunately, one's mindset is entirely within one's control. An unlucky person who resolves to change their luck can become more social; they can make a conscious effort to be optimistic and make the best of any situation; and they can be more open to new ideas and experiences.

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-Luck?&id=9460234

The Unfair Truth About How Creative People Succeed

The other week, I was invited to a dinner hosted by a friend. Those attending included people I’ve admired for years. Halfway through the dinner, I silently asked myself, “How did I get here?” The answer lies in what I subsequently learned.

For years, I had heard people talk about their influential friendships and subsequent success, and each time, I would seethe with envy. It seemed unfair. Of course those people were successful. They knew the right people. They were in the right place at the right time. They got lucky.

Years later, however, I discovered that success is born of luck -- I don’t think any honest person can dispute that. But luck, in many ways, can be created, or at the very least, improved. The truth is, life is not fair. For creative work to spread, you need more than talent. You have to get exposure to the right networks. And as unfair as that may seem, it’s the way the world has always worked.

The good news is, you have more control over this than you realize.

Creativity: a systems approach

What makes a person creative? As human beings, of course, we are all endowed with the ability to create. But, what is the difference between that kind of “little c” creativity and the world-changing “big C” creativity that changes industries and leaves a legacy for generations to come?

In his decades-long study of creativity, management psychology expert Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi described what he called a “systems approach.” Since "creative" work tends to be subjective, he posited a model that included three systems:

• The domain
• The field
• The individual

In order to be considered creative (in the sense that it offers some kind of enduring work the world remembers), a work must satisfy all three of these areas. Here’s how it works: First, an individual must master his or her craft in a given domain (art, science, mathematics,etc.). Then, this person must offer the creative work to a field of influencers in that domain who are trusted experts. Finally, those gatekeepers must decide whether the work is worth being accepted into the domain as being authoritative.

That’s the systems approach to creativity. And as much as I initially winced at the word “gatekeepers” when considering what makes creative work succeed, once I started reading biographies of famous artists, scientists and musicians, Csikszentmihalyi's theory made a lot of sense. Talent is only part of the equation. The rest is networking.

Hemingway, Paris and enduring work

When he was just a young man in his early 20s, Ernest Hemingway moved from Chicago to a poor district in Paris. He had just returned from a short stint of serving with the Red Cross in World War I and wanted to pursue a career in writing.

There was just one problem: Hemingway didn’t have much exposure to other writers. Who would teach him?

In Chicago, Hemingway met Sherwood Anderson, who encouraged him to move to Paris to meet Gertrude Stein, who led a community of writers, poets and artists there. Plus, it was cheaper to live in Paris, and Hemingway could live modestly while still having time to travel and write.

In Paris, he met Stein, as well as Ezra Pound, James Joyce and many others who would shape his work for years to come. This included a connection via F. Scott Fitzgerald to Scribner’s, the publisher that would later publish his novels and change the course of his career forever.

Before that decade in Paris, Hemingway was a writer of some notable talent and a pretty good journalist. But after those years when he immersed in the creative work of others, he became a household name.

Due to the connections created through that Paris community, Hemingway became one of the most famous writers of the 20th century. It’s inconceivable that such a development could have happened anywhere else. Not because there was something special about the Left Bank at that time, but because without a network, creative work does not endure. In other words, without Paris, there would have been no Hemingway. But, what does that mean for mere mortals like you and me?

Finding your own Paris

Are we doomed to failure if we don’t live in the right place at the right time? Of course not. But networks matter, maybe more than we care to admit. Vincent van Gogh’s work matured much more quickly once he met the French Impressionists. And why wouldn’t it? He now had a field of gatekeepers who both critiqued and validated his work.

Whether we like it or not, we all need some kind of objective standard against which to measure our work. And although van Gogh did not sell much of his work in his lifetime, it was the tenacity of a well-connected sister-in-law that eventually brought his paintings to market. In fact, most of the great art the world has ever seen came about not through a single stroke of genius but by the continual effort of a community.

Networks. Partnerships. Creative collaborations. This is where enduring work originates, and, incidentally, this is how we get works like The Lord of the Rings and The White Album. Creativity is not a solitary invention but a collaborative creation. And communities create opportunities for creative work to succeed. But how do you apply this approach if you don’t live someplace like Paris, New York or Rome?

Well, of course, you could move. According to Csikszentmihalyi, it’s better to move somewhere new than it is to will yourself to be more creative. And today, it’s easier than ever to transplant yourself someplace inspiring, even if your move is just temporary. I did this eight years ago, relocating from northern Illinois to Nashville and unknowingly inserting myself into what would become a hub of creativity, technology and entrepreneurship. I’m glad I did.

But you could also let go of your excuses and realize that there’s a network available to you right now, wherever you are. This may come in the form of an online mastermind group or a series of events you attend, maybe even one you organize yourself. The truth is, there are connections everywhere and always more resources available to those willing to look.

A seat at the table

Five years ago, I decided to do something radical -- well, radical for me at least. I let go of my cynicism and began reaching out to influential bloggers and authors, people I had watched for years and wanted to know. I asked them to meet me for coffee. And here’s the crazy part: Most of them said yes.

Even though I was a shy person, I met these heroes of mine and followed up with them, doing everything I could think of to help them. In some cases, it just meant buying their coffee. In others, I would interview them for my tiny blog, realizing that even the most influential people don’t mind talking about themselves.

I tried to be the kind of person these people would want to invest in -- following every piece of advice they gave, doing everything they told me to do and not questioning a single word of it. And at some point, I got lucky.

It’s naive to say success doesn’t involve luck. Of course, it does. Crazy stuff happens all the time, stuff we can’t control that sometimes works in our favor. At the same time, luck is not completely out of your control. Luck can be planned. Although I can’t tell when or where luck is going to come from, I do know that the more you put yourself in the company of greatness, the more likely some of that greatness will rub off on you.

So if you want a seat at the table, the process might look something like this:

1. Find a gatekeeper.

For Hemingway, this was Sherwood Anderson and eventually Gertrude Stein. These were the people who held the keys to the kingdom, and every domain has at least one. Find someone who is connected to the people you want to know, and be strategic in reaching out, tenacious in staying in touch and intentional in demonstrating your competency.

2. Connect with people in the network. 

Stein introduced Hemingway to other writers in Paris who could help him, but he was also relentless about meeting with them. He used to spar with Ezra Pound on a regular basis, boxing with him and learning how to write terse prose in the process. If you show the gatekeeper you’re willing to learn, he or she will likely introduce you to others and keep investing in you.

3. Help as many people as possible. 

This is crucial. It’s not just whom you know, it’s whom you help. People remember what you do for them a lot more than they remember how clever you were. In spite of his reputation as an alpha male, Hemingway did this, too -- helping Stein get her work published, encouraging Fitzgerald when he suffered from creative blocks and bringing attention to the work of the Left Bank.

Of course, every person’s journey is his or her own. But what I am now more certain of than ever is that success in any creative field is contingent on the networks you are a part of. The question is, will you embrace the power of networks, or will you keep thinking those people are just "lucky"?

Luck comes to us all. But those who recognize it are the ones who succeed. Every story of success is really a story of community, and the way you find yours is by reaching out and taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves -- whether the setting is Paris, Chicago or your own hometown.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/250468

Warren Buffett's Remarkably Simple Mantra for Success

Warren Buffett is wealthy, to the tune of $72.2 billion. To put this in perspective, only 67 of the 200 wealthiest countries listed by the United Nations generate a GDP greater than the value of his holdings.

He is also by many accounts one of the hardest-working people in business. According to his biographer, his "vaguely autistic aura" provides him with a keen ability to see and analyze numbers. And when most of us might question the validity of an undervalued company, he sees it for what it really is -- an opportunity.

Buffett is also an incredibly humble, honest and pretty funny fellow.

In 2002, I had the opportunity to hear The Oracle of Omaha speak at Georgetown University. Our small group of aspiring business leaders sat patiently hoping to hear sage investment advice or catch a hint of an upcoming acquisition. The jovial Buffett, however, lamented about his surprisingly humble rise to wealth and provided us with a few simple rules to live by.

Buffett quipping that the only difference between us young business students and him was that while we probably arrived to the venue by foot or in crappy old cars (given the costly tuition at Georgetown), he came on his cushy private jet.

That is hardly a small difference, Mr. Buffett.

He was quick to point out that we had all in fact started off poor, scared and naked. He dismissed the attributes of luck, though he acknowledged the fact that he was fortunate to have been born to supporting parents with means, or as he called it, "winning the fallopian tube lottery."

His career success and wealth, however, was not achieved through chance circumstance. Hard work, conviction and an enormous helping of common sense is what he attributes to success.

But that was not the secret.

Instead, Buffett emphasized that the true secret to success was to live a righteous life, because dishonesty, cruelty and immorality follow you throughout your career, and it is far more difficult to shed than any failure we will ever have.

He suggested that by adopting one simple mantra, all other parts of your personal and professional lives would fall into place:

Never do anything in life if you would be ashamed of seeing it printed on the front page of your hometown newspaper for your family and friends to see.

It is that simple.

There was no top-secret formula for valuing businesses or stock tips. Just be good, do right and treat others fairly.

Of course, Buffett has acquired ownership in a few small newspapers over the past years, so perhaps his goal is to control the front page content of his hometown newspaper.

Alas, I am certain his investment reasoning is far more sophisticated than that.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/243601

For Those of You Who Believe in It - Here Is How You Create Your Own Luck

Awareness - the key to creating your own luck

As members of at least one culture, we all engage in identifiable culture specific behaviour almost as if we were running on auto-pilot.

We grow up imitating our elders and so we learn behaviour that we do automatically without even realising it is happening. We tend not to think about these acts, but just perform them. Sometimes this behaviour comes in sequence and forms a pattern, which can vary between contexts.

For example, when you hear a telephone ring, you might have an urge to pick it up. When you hear a doorbell ring you will probably feel a desire to go and see who is there. If your culture places great store on courtesy, you might stand up when someone you consider senior enters a room you are in.

This is called anchor in the fascinating world of NLP. It is nothing new to you or anybody else, you just did not have a name for it even if you observed it happening.

But, how is this relevant to anything or how can this affect your everyday life?

Scientific research about luck - and how it is perceived

Here is some research shown in an article called "Bad Luck, Begone" published in Scientific American Mind magazine by Tori Rodriguez to help you understand.

In her research it is shown how triggering an anchor - in this case the western world anchor referred to as 'touch wood' to prevent or reduce the likelihood of inciting disaster - can affect the way in which you experience luck.

"Investigators at the University of Chicago and the National University of Singapore first engaged participants in small talk then turned the conversation to a topic pertaining to a specific misfortune. In one experiment, for example, a researcher talked about car accidents and then asked:

Do you think that there is a possibility that you or someone close to you will get into a horrible car accident this winter?"

Some subjects choose one of three neutral answers; others chose from one of three answers that could be construed as presumptuous, such as:

No way. Nobody I know would get into a car accident. It's just not possible.

A pre-test had confirmed that these answers effectively triggered the sense that participants had temped fate.

For participants who knocked on a table, however, the perceived likelihood of an accident happening was reduced to a level similar to that of people who had not temped fate."

Surprising, right?

How can doing something like literally 'touching wood' have any relation to how you perform in your own future events?

It makes no sense. However some people live by such systems of belief and in the believing, they can create the very opportunities they want to avoid.

Create your own luck

In the world of NLP, those who have been properly trained have the capacity to display an array of states that are congruent with their intentions within a context. They are either free of or minimally aware of externally set anchors on their behaviour and that gives them the flexibility to act or not upon those anchors being fired.

In other words, they have learned to create their own 'luck'.

https://ezinearticles.com/?For-Those-of-You-Who-Believe-in-It---Here-Is-How-You-Create-Your-Own-Luck&id=8966924