Do You Feel Lucky Today?

About the Author: Kate Olson, CPC, CHt, is a Life Transformation Coach, Clinical Hypnotherapist, EFT & NLP Practitioner & Reiki Master with a practice in the Seattle area, Northern Lights Life Coaching. She offers workshops & classes, as well as, individual and group life coaching. Her emphasis is on assisting clients in finding path, purpose and peace. She focuses on integration of mind, body and spirit wellness. It is her mission to help clients find joy through connection, creative expression and change facilitation. She is passionate about creativity, travel, the environment, personal growth and living with joyful purpose. She has a second wellness-related business offering Salt Therapy, Salt Works Saltariums. Salt Therapy offers an all natural treatment solution for respiratory and skin problems.

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​Do you feel lucky today or are you generally a lucky or unlucky person? More importantly, is there really luck at all? Are we, in fact, "lucky or unlucky"; or is it a matter of cause and effect and "luck" is simply our own imagination or conjecture. This question has been asked and debated quite extensively. Perhaps there is an answer or maybe not? 
   Having recently returned from a trip to Las Vegas, of course, this question did come up. Was I lucky? Well, I did try my hand at games of chance and came out $225.00 ahead playing balckjack.  Some people would refer to that as good luck, while others would not. The first day I gambled I came out $325.00 up, but on the second day I lost a hundred dollars. I was up a little over a hundred dollars that day, but kept playing and eventually lost it back, plus an additional hundred.  Was I unlucky that day or was it bad luck?
   On another note, my plane was an hour late arriving, my room was not up to par and the workshop I paid to attend was not what I expected. Was this all "bad luck"? Was my balckjack win "good luck"? There are differing opinions on that, but is there a definitive answer to the question?
   Clearly, I had nothing to do with the delays that made the plane late and I did nothing to justify the conditions of the the room not being what I expected and paid for. However, there were actions and behaviors that were causative for both of those circumstances (though not on my part). So, should I consider it "my bad luck"? Were my blackjack winnings "good luck" or was there something else at work in determining whether I would win or loose? I am a very good and knowledgeable player having dealt blackjack on a part-time basis for mock casino parties for over 20 years.  I almost always win, however, it is also true that if I play long enough, I will nearly always loose and on any given day or occurence of playing I may win or loose in a way that I am not expecting. Where does that leave us on the question of luck? Still pondering and uncertain?   

“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.” 
― Dalai Lama XIV

“Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” 
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Wise men have expressed differing opinions on the subject of luck throughout history and we are still debating the existence of luck, good or bad!

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  Several experts weigh in as follows:

 In a Discovery series, Through the Wormhole program narrated by Morgan Freeman the subject of luck is discussed from a scientic perspective and it seems, -- Luck is real from a Physicist's viewpoint!

• https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjZn8WlzevTAhWFLmMKHVcqCz8QFggnMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencechannel.com%2Ftv-shows%2Fthrough-the-wormhole%2Fvideos%2Fis-luck-real%2F&usg=AFQjCNFuOUGB2h9QAtrzqWBOZZmB2QVEMQ&sig2=Y1COJqqv1cPuLPba9DqYQg 

 It seems, "Even if you knew every physical detail of a coin toss -from the molecules in the air to the movement of your hands - that coin flip would still come down to fifty-fifty odds on heads or tails!" 
Thus, according to quamtum mechanics and quantum uncertainty theory - the science of it says "luck" is very real!" 

 In an article in Popular Science, May 17, 2015, "The Science of Luck - Is the phenomenon real? Can it be harnassed? by Alexandra Ossola - the argument for luck being real or believing in luck is supported, but with a twist:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjZn8WlzevTAhWFLmMKHVcqCz8QFggtMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popsci.com%2Fluck-real&usg=AFQjCNF0ILbJbsWlxZIgu7n5Be35SUuwLg&sig2=t15UHhw5VJba8DviWtdd3w

 Ossola states: "Many of these studies have found that what a person might perceive as “luck” has more to do with psychology than probability; "luck" is actually just her own positive attitude that keeps her open to new opportunities or perceiving patterns in random acts of chance."
This gives evidence that there is possibly a strong element to attitude or mindset as to whether a person is "lucky" or "unlucky" generally or on any given day, even considering the belief that luck is scientifically real.   

 However, there is an entirely opposing view. Although, this perspective also accepts the existence of randomness, they explain what is usually referred to as luck in an entirely different way leading to the belief that there is "no such thing as luck"!

 http://humanscience.wikia.com/wiki/Theory_of_Luck#

 This theory uses resources like The Secret and The Law of Attraction and concludes that the inner creates the outer. It supposes that are values ultimately determine our luck and that we can thus have a determining factor in the outcome of things. The article states, "Luck occurs when we suddenly tap the power of the causal plane. When we live and express higher values, we enter the causal plane and luck rushes in."
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 And still, another viewpoint is that there is "no such thing as luck", simply claiming that everything relies on cause and effect and does not consider outside factors in the equation. In an article in Elite, Alice Panikian concludes:

​ "We are all responsible for ourselves. No one else is to blame for our situation. We are where we are because of our past actions and reactions. You are only a victim if you allow yourself to be one. So take every negative situation as an opportunity to better yourself and your circumstances. The only thing getting in your way to happiness is YOU." Alice Panikian | Elite.  
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  So, it appears there is not a real concensus on the subject of luck and different people may choose to embrace one explanation or another and see things from that perspective.  I tend to see some merit in each explanation. I do believe the science and I do believe that we do influence the the outcome of things both by our beliefs and our attitudes and I do definitely think that there is an overriding factor of randomness at work in the world. 
  Ultimately, I choose to believe in luck, miracles and magic.  It is totally an emotional and subjective choice and I recognize the possible illogic of it!  So, "Good Luck!" in love, money and life - whether you believe in it, or not!  And yes, I do feel "lucky" today - lucky and blessed!