Colleen Houck

“I took hold of that scourge -filled ship and crushed it between my limbs, hurtling it into the second sun, the red one that gave me strength. But I was too late." Terraformer

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  • Top Ten Ways to get Luck on your Side

    March 14, 2017

    TOP TEN BEHAVIORS THAT MAKE ME FEEL LUCKY

    Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! Today is one of those holidays where you see shamrocks and pots of gold, little leprechauns and people dressed in green for a spot o’ good luck. You may also hear or have heard at some point in time, the old adage, “the luck o’ the Irish”.

    It comes as no surprise that Irish history is riddled with superstitious beliefs involving cats and mirrors and ghosts, so why not have a special day where a bunch of luck shines down on those sporting their clovers of green with rainbows and pots of gold?

    While it’s fun to celebrate with clovers, rainbows and gold foiled chocolates, there’s not a whole lot of “luck” that comes from wearing green. At least, not in my experience.

    So I thought why not share the things that have created “luck” in my own life. I’ve written ten behaviors (in no particular order) that I know have set the motion for success in life’s pursuits.

    -1-

    Have a vision. In the book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey talks about always beginning with the end in mind. This way of thinking creates both purpose and focus for any goal you may have. He also says there are two creations for building success There is the mental creation where you envision, plan, organize and design and then there is the physical creation where you act on that vision. This is true with everything if you think about it. If you don’t see yourself going their first, you won’t get there at all.

    -2-

    Positive mental awareness. Some people are naturally optimistic and happy like the fictional troll character Poppy. There are also those who are more pessimistic and let’s face it, sometimes downright negative or even grumpy. Thankfully, this is a trait you can work on and eventually perfect. It may take time but its possible. Have you ever heard the saying, “whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right”? The mind is a powerful thing. You can’t physically go where your mind doesn’t go first. If you have a negative attitude, you won’t enjoy the process either and in that case, what’s the point of going there at all. While life may not always be “cupcakes and rainbows”, why not keep the hope that in time, your seeds of effort will eventually grow and blossom?

     

    -3-

    Get comfortable with getting uncomfortable. Change for the better, whether we like it or not, almost always happens outside of our comfort zone. Our greatest strides in life are from the hardships we face. That’s nature. We just have to decide that it’s ok to be comfortable because on the other side of it, is that thing we are fighting for, that thing we hope and yearn for.

     

    -4-

    Take advantage of opportunities. Sometimes the only difference between an “unlucky” and a “lucky” person is simply seizing the moment when it presents itself. First, we have to be looking for those windows of opportunity. Second, we have to be ready and willing to jump on it when the timing is right.

    If we are too busy complaining about our lot in life, or our focus is too narrow, those opportunities can quickly slip between our fingers.

    -5-

    Go for it! This one is probably my biggest struggle. I get cold feet when it comes to taking that big leap of faith. It’s easy to say “I’ll do it someday” or “maybe next time” but all too often we keep those dreams somewhere safe…. in our dreams. If we want it, we’ve got to get up and grab it. We can’t wait for permission or for conditions to be perfect because they rarely are. Sometimes life has a way of pushing us in certain directions and that can both enable us to take that first step or it can hinder us. Either way, JUST GO FOR IT!

    -6-

    Get to work and stay at it. Ok, so you’ve taken that giant leap of faith and you have a vision. You’re positive mental attitude is going strong and you’re plugging away at your dream. Time tick-tocks and you start to lose momentum. This is where you need to remember why you started in the first place and let that be your driving force to keep at it.

    Hard work and endurance takes discipline and focus. If you take a break from your project, don’t let it get dusty and left forgotten. Keep at it even if it’s just a few minutes each day.

    -7-

    Do it from the heart. If there’s one thing you must never lose, it’s heart. If your head gets too busy with the details and ideas, sometimes you can get lost in it and that’s a potentially dangerous place to be. There may be times when pivotal choices need to be made. This is when your heart must lead the way. It’s important not to rush through those big decisions. Learn to listen to how you feel and don’t over think it. Do what feels right and you can’t go wrong.

    -8-

    Roll with the punches. With all the curve balls life throws our way, it is imperative that we are flexible and learn to work through the problems and compromise when necessary. Stubbornness can be a wonderful trait but it can also keep us from having luck on our side. It can even destroy our chance of success if we aren’t flexible. But remember, be stubborn with your goals but flexible in the methods of getting there.

    -9-

    Pause and reflect. All too often we become micro focused and lose perspective of what’s most important. I find that this happens very quickly for me. We live in an especially fast paced world that demands more of our time than we physically possess. So how can we combat this? Something I do is have regularly scheduled reflection time every Sunday. This is the day I use to step away from my work week to re-center, re-focus, and restore. This is where we can put ourselves back on track if we’ve drifted off course. This is the time we can refuel if we are weary. This is the time we can gain inspiration or new insights as we look at things with fresh perspective. I highly recommend setting aside one day a week, even if it’s for just a half a day to realign our goals. Then we can feel confidant and start re-energized for the upcoming week.

    -10-

    Creating a Zen-like environment.  Have you ever found it hard to get inspired, motivated, or positive when you’re in a toxic or less than perfect environment? If you are surrounded by clutter, distractions, certain smells, and certain sounds (or even certain people),  they can detract from your attitude and success. Do you sometimes get irritated easier in certain places more than others?  Have you ever considered why? Do you find inspiration, motivation, or positive mental thinking when you are in certain environments? Is there a way you could incorporate some of that environment into places you typically work/live? Having a place that is clean, pleasant in color, textures, and aroma can make a big difference in your demeanor. Specific sounds can calm, energize, or even anger a person. Try to incorporate changes in your environment that help you feel the right energies you are looking for. See what changes you observe.

    And there you have it, my top ten behaviors that help me feel “lucky”. Try these out and let me know what you observe. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

     

     

    This entry was posted in Top Ten Lists, Uncategorized, Writing Advice.

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    Linda

    I’m Linda Louise, one of the bloggers on this website and Colleen’s little sister. I’m just a girl in her mid-thirties who feels thirteen when I play outside with my boys, fifteen when I sing my heart out listening to tunes while driving by myself, and sixty five when I go out past ten at night. I have a thing for junior mints, Mt. Dew, shrimp and kale (though not all at once) and I have a crush on Superman. I still get girlish butterflies when I read Twilight, cry when I read These is My Words, and smile from ear to ear when I read Anne of Green Gables. I have nightmares about aliens on a regular basis and I have a bad habit of midnight snacking. I love everything sports, except golf (although can that honestly be considered a sport??), and I hate anything that slithers, hisses, or stings. I have a problem with giggling at inappropriate moments and I sometimes wish life was a musical. I love science, hate math, love Dr. Seuss, and hate olives. My family is my world and my joys come from their happiness. I’ve learned I don’t know much about anything and I live for a good adventure, naps, cuddles, stories, exceptional food and The Shire.