Oh, she’s so lucky! Or is she really? …
What is luck?
The dictionary describes it as a success brought by chance rather than through one’s own actions. But can we really agree with that?
We often approach success of people as lucky or because of good circumstances. What we mostly forget is hard work and preparation to achieve that ‘luck’. Nobody got lucky by sitting around at home until luck strikes. Neither can we buy luck or order it. We make small choices every day that bring us to the point we are right here and now. Luck is part of these choices we make in our life. If we look at the people we look up to, for example famous people, actors, models, singers, fitness coaches and so on, we can agree that they got lucky by working hard for it and preparing themselves. There is still one ingredient missing for achieving this so called ‘luck’ and this is opportunity. If opportunity strikes and we are prepared for it, that is called luck.
Let’s explain this with an example like winning a football game. You can say that the winning team got lucky that one of the losing team his player got injured and they won. But if they didn’t prepare themselves for this game by training, working out tactics and posing the right player on the correct spot in the field they could and probably would have lost. So is it because of the injured player they won or because they prepared themselves and when opportunity struck (the injured player) they won? We can agree stating they won because opportunity stroke plus they were prepared for it and luck happened. Luck by chance wasn’t at the base of this victory.
The same applies to these people we look up to or even envy. They work hard to prepare themselves for when that opportunity strikes. If you work hard for the goal you want to achieve, any goal that is and you prepare yourself, opportunity will strike and luck will happen to you. Yes, it is as simple as that.
We also need to be aware that luck can go as fast as it can appear. We can get lucky by preparing ourselves for the opportunities that will come and when these strike, luck happens. The key here is to nurture our luck in life and prepare us against other people’s opportunity that can take away our luck.
Let’s explain this with another example. You got hired for a certain dream job because you studied for it, you created your CV and prepared yourself for an upcoming interview. Opportunity struck because the company you want to work with is hiring new people. As you were prepared, you got accepted for the job. Here you are working in your dream job, so lucky and blessed. But remember: there are others at the same moment preparing for this dream job and are waiting for opportunity to strike. If you are not preparing yourself by retraining yourself and working well to obtain your dream job, opportunity will strike for someone else and your luck will disappear.
Luck is creating your opportunities and to be ready when they strike! Let us be creative in life and not wait until luck comes our way, because it might or might not happen. Be that lucky star that makes itself shine and create your own opportunities that brings you luck. Think about it: If they can do it so can you!
Maitha E. Coninx – Life Coach and writer of the book Maitha’s Way Of Life.
Maitha’s Way Of Life, a 12-week Program to a more Happy, Fulfilled and Colorful Lifestyle.