How lucky are you?

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I thought I'd look at how much luck plays in our lives.

The American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, " Shallow men believe in luck and circumstances. Strong men believe in cause and effect."

Why do so many people seem to catch all the breaks in life while others never seem to get the prize?

The fact is that "lucky people" see what the rest of us miss. They see opportunities right in front of them. They don't wait for life to come to them. They get out there and make things happen. These lucky people often fail, but we never realize it because they don't let failure stop them. They keep moving forward and move on to the next opportunity they create.

Lucky people also trust their gut. They don't need to have all the information. They jump in with both feet and figure it out as they go. They trust their intuition and believe things will turn out for their benefit.

According to a January 26, 2016 article in Psychology Today by Neil Farber, MD, here are the 8 Habits Of Highly Lucky People:

1. Be mindful - Be situationally aware of things happening around you so you can take advantage of opportunities that present themselves when you least expect them.

2. Be proactive - Don't wait for things to happen. Cause something to happen.

3. Be opportunistic - Take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. Don't overthink it.

4. Be insightful - Play your hunches if they are based on your insight and knowledge.

5. Be flexible - Change is inevitable. Take advantage of it.

6. Be optimistic - Always see your life circumstances as being half-full.

7. Think outside the box - Always look for different ways to accomplish a task. Business as usual doesn't make you lucky.

8. Be resilient - Never quit. Always find new ways to do things.  

Luck isn't random. As my Nana used to say, "Terry, always remember, you make your luck, and nobody is going to make it for you. Make sure you put yourself in situations where good things can happen." Nana was a brilliant woman, and I was lucky to have her in my life.