Do you believe in luck? According to Joyce Carol Oates, “The worst cynicism: a belief in luck.”
Lots of folks who haven’t achieved the success they say they hope to achieve blame their situation on luck. They ascribe their circumstances to “bad luck” and dismiss the success of others as “good luck.”
This attitude keeps them from reaching their full potential.
As long as you are in any way guilty of blaming someone else for a situation in your own life, you are doomed to dependence. It is only when we are able to take full responsibility for our choices that we are prepared to move forward and to craft our own independence.
Really stop for a moment and sift out the above sentiment: as long as we assign any power to a force outside our own control, we surrender our fate to that entity. We are dismissing our own part in our development. We discount our own capabilities and responsibilities to ourselves.
When we assume responsibility for our choices, our perspective shifts. When we can internalize and acknowledge statements like “I choose to do [ _____ ] because of [ _____ ],” we align our values with our actions.
When we harness that kind of accountability, doors open and opportunities appear. We can discern situations and options that will most benefit our ultimate goals. Even when a choice we make turns out to not be the best decision it could have been (or we were ‘wrong’), we still are in a better position for becoming independent. Taking ownership of our mistakes enables us to see our part in it, change our behavior and future outcomes.
To the outside observer, this can appear to be luck. What it actually is? Putting ourselves in the best possible position for future growth. Successful people wish to be associated with those who take responsibility for their lives.
Again, think about it. Which is more appealing: hanging around with a bunch of people who blame everyone one else for the quagmire of their life or would you prefer to surround yourself with those who understand and acknowledge their part in their lives?
As long as we drift along on the flotsam and jetsam of wishes and false beliefs in an elusive “luck,” we will be rudderless and ineffective.
There are a zillion quotes floating around the internet about luck, including a couple that immediately come to mind: “the harder I work, the luckier I get,” and “luck is where opportunity meets preparation.” For what it’s worth, I prefer the latter. The first implies that simply working hard is enough. Not necessarily. The latter is an example of what is known as working smarter.
Do your homework when attempting to reach a goal:
• Is it in line with my strengths?
• Is my heart in it?
• Do I understand the industry?
• Do I have a plan for my growth, success?
• Is there a way to measure my goals?
Under each point, expand the steps needed to define or measure the goals-within-a-goal. Re-assess and modify the steps or destination as necessary. Reach out to those who have achieved what you hope to do. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. Faithful, consistent adherence to these steps will help you become “lucky.”
You can do it.
P.S. Every Sunday, I publish a free weekly newsletter called the 3 Minute Reset, which includes life lessons, life hacks and treats. To subscribe, click here.
