are you feeling lucky?

There is no such thing as luck, it’s actually about perception. Luck is a state of mind and it’s yours if you’re open to it. Kind of nice, huh?! Professor Wiseman, of the University of Hertfordshire, completed a 10-year study revealing that, “Lucky people generate their own good fortune via four basic principles. They are skilled at creating and noticing chance opportunities, make lucky decisions by listening to their intuition, create self-fulfilling prophesies via positive expectations, and adopt a resilient attitude that transforms bad luck into good.” So basically, if you believe that you are lucky, then you are lucky! Conversely, if you believe that you are unlucky, well then guess what… you’re unlucky.

So what does this mean for us? It demonstrates the power of our belief system. It’s up to you, me, us, whether or not we are lucky! It’s up to each of us to notice opportunities, listen to our intuition, to expect the positive and to cultivate a resilient attitude. Of course, the world isn’t all rainbows and unicorns but if our starting point is one of openness, confidence, optimism and trust, then we’re in a much better position to be lucky.

Easier said than done, I realize. But perhaps next time you notice your pessimism or negativity, consider how you might be able to view things differently. Notice how this subtle, though profound, shift changes things for you. Good luck! 😉

just sit back and let the universe hold you for a while

Trust is a complicated concept for most people. Who can you trust, what can you trust, when can you trust them or it, what happens when your trust is betrayed? What happens when they disappoint you? Disappointment is ubiquitous in relationships but if that shatters one’s trust, then what does that mean for that person’s relationships? How does one have meaningful, open, reciprocal relationships if their trust is lost vis a vis disappointment, which is inevitable in human relationships?

Most times, those who struggle with trust are those who also struggle with high levels, or persistent levels, of anxiety. They work too hard, feeling that the weight of the world is on their shoulders. That things are all up to them. That they are alone. Maybe you know people who struggle in this way. Perhaps you are one of them.

For me, when I realize that I am working way too hard and beginning to feel the weight of the world, I reflect upon why and then I remind myself to just sit back and let the universe hold me for a while. In fact, this self-created affirmation has become something that has empowered me countless times throughout my life. To be clear, I do not mean to imply that we should sit back and do nothing. I do mean that we can reposition ourselves to breathe differently, think differently about what we are trying to control and let things unfold organically, recognizing that much of the energy we are putting out is going to waste because we’re really not THAT powerful that we can control everything.

I offer my affirmation to you. I invite you to just sit back and let the universe hold you for a while. Experience it. Trust it. Allow it to help you let go of what you are holding onto. Notice what emotions rise up as you breathe into this new space. It may be scary at first but with practice it will become easier.

I also invite you to create your own affirmation(s), even daily. If you create them from within yourself, they will resonate differently and more deeply. Sounds hokey? I understand. But sometimes this hokey stuff is amazing if you suspend your judgment. Give it a try!

What’s your affirmation?