For those of you looking forward to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with all its green apparel, parties and leprechauns, another important tradition you may want to learn about is called “Drowning the Shamrock.” Everyone knows shamrocks to be a symbol of luck, which is why this tradition has people place one at the bottom of their drink and chug it. I could always use a little extra luck (and fun) so I know I’d definitely try this out (once I’m 21, duh).
What if I told you, though, that in the year that I’m waiting to be of age, I’m not solely relying on gaining luck through an edible shamrock? That’s because I’m practicing how to create my own luck and attract my own opportunities! Here are some of the things I’ve been trying to mindfully incorporate into my day-to-day life, which I personally find have worked wonders:
1. Prayer
I am a firm believer that I wouldn’t have the blessings that I do if they weren’t apart of God’s plan for me. Every day I recognize how blessed I am to live the life that I do, with the family that I have, the friends in my life and the opportunities that have come my way. On top of that, I’m able to see the ways that God answers my prayers on a day-to-day situational basis. I go to God with the littlest of complaints and biggest and smallest of requests. Even if it doesn’t feel like I’m getting answered because it’s not in the way I want it, deep down, I know that persistence in prayer has purpose. I’ve had situations where I find my prayers being answered either days later or years later, and moments like those are part of what keeps me believing that I’m being listened to. Through prayer, I’d say I’m more blessed and loved by God than I am lucky.
2. A Grateful Mindset
With all the blessings and answered prayers, it’s not hard to be grateful. Sometimes, though, when you get bogged down with stressful responsibilities, an overthinking brain and impatience, it can be easy to not actively practice gratitude. I’ve learned that gratitude is absolutely a feeling and a genuine appreciation for what you have, but it’s also something you need to work at. You have to push yourself to think of how many things you have to be grateful for, even when it feels like everything is going wrong. Learning to say thank you to God, the universe, yourself or whatever you attribute your blessings and luck to can attract even more amazing things to happen in your life. I find that when I’m constantly focusing on what good things are happening around me, more comes flowing in.
3. Aiming High
Luck usually insinuates that you don’t need to work for what you want; it’s by chance and depends on if you’re, well, lucky. While I’m sure there are a lot of situations where you could actually just be lucky, like winning the lottery, I think the things that we really want in our lives are achieved with some type of initiation on our part. Like my high school yearbook quote said, “Fortune favors the bold.” Test out your luck by aiming high. Aim high when you’re applying for a leadership position. Aim high when you’re studying for a test. Aim high when you’re working out. Aim high whenever you set goals, and see what comes to you.
Personally, I’d say that attracting luck is a mix of accepting what is meant for you while also working towards what you want. By being grateful for what you currently have and continuing to seek it out, you can be surprised how a simple change in mindset and a bit more effort can cause a flood of blessings to come in.