Finding Luck
I’m not a big believer in luck, which runs against my Irish ancestry (my mom’s family name was O’Leary). I see the signs for Powerball and Mega Millions tempting people to try their luck at winning big. Due to the long odds and the fact that I have never won when I bought lottery tickets in the past, I ain’t even tempted.
Evan Carmichael and Mel Robbins
I’ve been watching Evan Carmichael’s videos on YouTube for a year or more. Evan’s channel features successful people giving advice: Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffet, among many others. Evan’s hashtag is #Believe, which is a way to urge people to believe in themselves.
“This channel was created to help you overcome the number one challenge that is holding you back: a lack of belief in yourself,” are his words at the beginning of many videos. “You know you’ve got something more inside you too. You have Michael Jordan-level talent at something!”
Recently on a two-hour trip, I listened to the advice given by Mel Robbins on one of Evan’s videos.
The Science Behind Luck
“You can become luckier based on the things you do and the things you think about,” were her words.
“Prove it to me,” are the thoughts I had when I considered this. Everyone has tried positive thinking at some time in their life. It works in the short term – for a day or so.
“One of the things about lucky people is that lucky people make their luck because they have trained themselves to think optimistically.” I could see this as being a possibility in how some people succeed. Could this work for me, someone who easily finds negativity? Could it work for me, someone who has taken anti-depressants for a while because I know the meds have gotten me over some hurdles in my life?
One Trick
“There is one small trick that you can use in your life that is free and you can do it today,” Mel says.
“What is it?” I wonder.
“When you go to bed tonight,” she began, “Write down one thing that happened today that was good. That’s it. Start a practice.”
I could do that. In fact, there are three or four things that would be worth remembering.
The First Days
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On September 26, I began writing in my journal:
As the week went on, I journaled about other good things that happened:
Some days I had only one or two things to write down. Usually, I’m tired at bedtime and, so, I write these things down first thing in the morning when everyone else in the house is sleeping.
One Month into The Practice
About a week ago, I was able to find ten good things that had happened the day before:
At this point, I’m a little more than a month into the practice. It’s an understatement to say that it makes me feel good. Doing this, I think, gives me the motivation to keep going. It is something that I look forward to each morning.
Usually, the good things just flow, though some mornings it takes a little more time. Before I write down my list now, I now write this headline at the top of a new page:
Top Ten Yesterday
Have I become luckier? As I said, I feel good which can feel like good fortune. I will take whatever luck comes my way.
Evan Carmichael's video is here.
Those small habits become such big things! Life changing even! Bill Bariteau you inspire me, my friend.
Thanks Bill! Nice reminder when we get down on things.
Great stuff! I’ve never been one for luck but I am a big believer in blessings!
Love these Bill! Keep em’ coming!