The Paradox of "Luck"

I just got home from a trip out to Las Vegas for about a week and although Sin City is probably best known for their casinos, I really had no interest in gambling.  I watched countless people put their money into machines and on to tables, never to be seen again after just seconds.  This brought me to the question: What is the phenomenon of “luck” and how does it control our lives?

Just like our ego, “luck” is a figment of our imagination that tends to swing around like a pendulum in the back of our minds, causing us to make decisions that are generally uncharacteristic with our values.  What I mean is, when dealing with everyday life situations, relying on “luck” is pointless to me.  It is a gamble that has too high of a loss to risk: the loss is time.  While focusing our energy on the hope of luck striking we are taking away from the situation at hand and in turn wasting time (and energy) that could have been better invested in working towards the desired outcome that we want “luck” to achieve.

I bring this up because many people live their lives this way, hoping and wishing for luck to bring us better jobs, lots of money, happiness, positive outcomes, etc.  Unfortunately, “luck” or really the universe only helps those who help themselves.  Maybe it’s just one of those things that people need to get out of their systems, but I challenge and encourage anyone who believes only in “luck” to start making things happen for themselves, and watch the positive outcomes find their way into your life.

And walk away from the casino. There are lots of delicious meals to be eaten instead. :)