Make 2014 year of fortune
Kgomotso Molelekeng | Friday January 10, 2014 15:59
All this makes for interesting facts. For instance if you believe in luck or the seven-year life cycle then it is likely that 2014 marks the end of bad fortune. This year begins the season of good luck, only if you attack it with a positive mind. Even if a black cat crossed your path, do not despair because studies suggest that ‘luck’ is a skill set. So with a bit of work you can make 2014 your most fortunate year.
A research conducted by a United Kingdom psychologist, Richard Wiseman, suggests that it is we who really influences whether we experience good or ill fortune. He found that a significant potion of ‘good luck’ is directly due to one’s state of mind and one’s specific behaviour.
He has discovered that the so-called ‘lucky’ people have a specific skill set that has nothing to do with their intelligence, when they were born or even their material circumstances. Lucky people, he found, are generally extroverts, are not anxious, or close-minded nor pessimistic.
According to Wiseman, the essence of luck is opportunity, and the more opportunities you encounter and the more receptive you are to these opportunities, the ‘luckier’ you will be. So rather than living with your unease, why not seize this opportunity and see whether he is right? This could be your first step towards shaping your own luck, happiness and future.
I, for one, am not going to tell you how to make New Year resolutions or how to keep them. One thing I can assure you is that you do not need resolutions. Live everyday as it comes. The best way to overcome life difficulties is to have a positive attitude.
Maximise change. The only way one can tackle this is to network and to adopt a more relaxed attitude to life and be open to new experiences. One can also listen to their own intuition and never dismiss their ‘gut’ feelings. To make more effective decisions, regularly meditate and clear your mind of other thoughts.
Expect good fortune. When you are sure that your future includes good things, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and helps you persist when faced with failure. This also positively shapes your interactions with others.
Turn bad luck into good luck. Instead of dwelling on the negative aspects of events - remind yourself they could have been worse. Do not give in to powerlessness; see how and where you can take control of a situation because it is the only way to get a better outcome.
Do not get me wrong, I am not saying there will not be obstacles along the way. There will be days when you are down and on the edge of losing hope. Whatever situation you are faced with, God will see you through. When I am at the verge of losing it, I normally go through my role model’s Facebook page (Strive Masiyiwa), not only do I get motivated and inspired after reading his posts but he also gives me hope and makes me realise that I can still make it tomorrow.
Masiyiwa is a well-known international business leader who has won numerous international recognition and awards. He has been in business since 1986. He first came to international prominence when he won a five-year landmark constitutional legal battle in Zimbabwe.
Just the other day I came across this beautiful message that I thought I should share with you, it read:
Prepare to fly!
A young woman sat on a park bench over lunch. And while she sat there she noticed a butterfly trying to come out of its cocoon. She watched it struggle and struggle for more than an hour. Eventually feeling sorry for it she reached for a small pair if scissors, and gently used it to clip open the cocoon. To her surprise the butterfly that was released did not fly away it just sat there totally crippled. You see, what she did not realise was that the struggle a butterfly goes through, is what pumps blood into its wings so that it may be able to fly.
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings as eagles;
They shall run, and not be weary;
And they shall walk, and not faint.
The eagle is an unusual bird, because it has mustered the ability to fly into a storm. It ‘mounts’ strong winds as though it is going up a staircase. It is the only bird that you will find flying during a storm.
This year approach life with the majesty of an eagle. Do not be afraid of headwinds or opposition; use them; mount them like stairs for your success.
The word ‘wait upon’ comes from the Hebrew word, ‘qawah’, which denotes, someone who is ‘serving’ as they wait. It is an active process and not passive.
You might be struggling to get a job. You might be struggling to make your finances work. You might be struggling to fund your education. You might be struggling to make a small business successful. You might be struggling to get ahead in your job. You might even be going through viscous persecution that even threatens your very life. Listen to me, from today, start thinking about it differently. No matter how dark, no matter how challenging, you are not going under. You are going over. Just do not give up.