The other evening, I walked out of the room with my cut nails wrapped up in a piece of newspaper to throw away. My father was concerned. He was angry with me for cutting my nails after sunset. When I argued that we have enough light in the evening, he said I was bound to bring bad luck. Though I am not particularly superstitious, I certainly am not keen to invite trouble. That got me into looking for ways to get good luck.
Luck is such an abstract concept. When it comes down to it, there are two ways of understanding. The first focuses on luck beyond our control. This kind of luck operates on universal forces, the more “chance” encounters. The second centres around being able to maneuver the little control you have by maintaining a positive outlook and creating opportunities. If luck is a combination of both, then you’ll find me doing my part to look for all the luck I can get.
Luck inherently seems like it’s out of our hands. Yet, there are methods you can use to invite good fortune. It sometimes is as simple as a mindset shift. Let’s dive into 18 ways on how to attract good luck.
Physical And Energetic Rituals To Attract Good Luck
Doing an action repeatedly might feel monotonous, but a ritual operates on intention. Meaningful practices are steeped in tradition because they force us to slow down and reconsider things that matter most. When you really pay attention, luck is all around. Suddenly, you don’t have to look for it anymore. Consider the following rituals to add to your everyday routine:
1. Lighting lamps, burning incense
This is an everyday ritual in most Asian households, as it is in mine. It carries the belief that the lighting of lamps and burning incense helps with energy purification. This is also an easy way to dispel negativity.
2. Meditation
When there is a lot going on around us, it is natural to feel anxious. According to research, deep breathing practices and meditation help embrace being present. It helps confront the shift in energy, balance chakras (energy centres in the body), and focus inward.
3. Movement
Mindful walking, or slow, intentional movement, can recenter focus. Practicing yoga brings benefits as there are specific asanas (poses), such as those in Surya Namaskar, cater to redirect balance and bring inner peace. Chinese practices of Qigong and Tai Chi offer respite as well.
4. Journaling
Doing internal work is as important as managing physical well-being. Morning pages are a freestyle way of recording your thoughts first thing in the morning. If you struggle with journaling, you can employ a prompt to help navigate your thoughts. It is important to remember that this is a judgment-free practice.
RELATED READING: If You Are An Introvert, This Is How To Become An Extrovert: 10 Easy Tips
Habits That Magnetize Opportunities
Imagine you’re working on something, and it hits you how some people have it easy. As though luck comes naturally to them. Luckily for us, certain mannerisms maximize the chances of gaining more opportunities. Add these habits to attract luck mentioned below and manifest your own dream reality.
5. Practicing positivity
A positive mindset for good fortune combines gratitude, inner peace, self-belief, and trust. It can be as small as making a habit of saying something you’re grateful for right before you retire for the night.
6. Personal growth and development
Negativity breeds in monotony. Does following a strict routine at the workplace sucks your soul? To bring joy and approach self-discovery, create an opportunity to learn something new every day. To avoid accumulating negative experiences, you need to actively seek delight.
7. Self-care
Self-care is not overrated. It only works on a personal level. Choosing activities you enjoy is important. Among journaling, meditation, movement/yoga, and exercise, learning to balance rest and play is key.
8. Social connection
Curating a personal social circle requires effective communication. As social animals, we are innately community-oriented. Practicing active listening and creating opportunities to meet new people enables good networking. These skills bring more social encounters and luck.
RELATED READING: 9 Characteristics Of A Trustworthy Person
Symbolic Acts And Cultural Wisdom For Good Luck
You might have tried using good luck symbols and traditions for luck. Have you got one on the handle of your bag, or in your wallet? It might be for the aesthetics, but it comes from the ancient cultural practices of embracing that which is out of our control. Every culture has its own set of beliefs. Some more ways to acquire luck include:
9. Lucky charms
Put simply, a lucky charm is an object that brings luck to the person who owns it. When you shop for good luck charms, you are bound to come across horseshoes, wishbones, elephants, maneki neko, laughing buddhas, Florence pigs, evil eyes, dreamcatchers, bamboo, four-leaf clovers, and more, depending on the kind of luck you are looking for. It also includes lucky colours, numbers, and stones. Charms have been skillfully incorporated into jewellery for a better effect.
10. Symbolic acts
There are a lot of cultural practices that include symbolic acts to be performed to cultivate good luck. From around the world, here are a few traditional symbolic acts:
- In India, it is common to let boiled milk spill over before moving into a new house. In Singapore, the same belief is held by rolling a pineapple into the new space.
- Circumambulations in temples and holy places are not only means of prayer. They aid in dispelling negativity, and generating a sense of peace within.
- Koreans consider dreaming of pigs a good omen. It is an auspicious sign, as pigs are associated with abundance and prosperity. They believe that it is a harbinger of wealth and good luck.
11. Cultural practices
While cultural practices surrounding luck are abundant, a few notable ones include:
- The Lunar New Year celebrations in China propel the exchange of red envelopes, or hongbao. Reciprocation comes with the intention to invite luck. It also bears significance of protection and vitality, as the colour red is believed to possess.
- Japanese daruma dolls are bought to actively initiate the entry of good luck. You are to wish for something when you paint the first eye. You grant full sight when your wish is granted, out of gratitude.
- If you practice yoga, you might have included some asanas (poses) from Surya Namaskar or sun salutations. In India, it is significant as it is believed to tap into the sun’s source of energy and life. While each asana (pose) caters to overall flexibility and health, it is traditionally believed to bring prosperity and blessings.
- Moving into a new space, or redecorating? Chinese feng shui, harmonizing the flow of vital life (chi) through the position of objects, offers a positive outlook. Connecting the five elements, it aims to create a balanced environment that improves well-being and prosperity.
RELATED READING: 7 Ways To Overcome Self-Defeating Thoughts
12. Rendition of faith
Methods of manifesting faith occur in similar forms of practice, regardless of the specificity of the chosen divine. It can be practiced by:
- Chanting mantras, or “om,”
- Reading/recitation of prayer,
- Rituals, and
- Festivals
13. Celebration
Festivals to ward off negativity and encourage renewal of good luck from around the world include Chinese New Year, India’s Holi, Thailand’s Songkran, Spain’s La Tomatina, and Bhutan’s Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival.
Mindful Actions That Break Unlucky Patterns
When a bad day turns into a bad week, hope feels like a pipe dream. You forget what it is like to be happy. It feels like bad luck has become your shadow and follows you no matter where you go. Here are a few things you can do to break free from it:
14. Regard patterns
When bad luck occurs over time, it is easy to get caught up in negativity. Sit with those thoughts and reflect on what has happened. While it feels like you are helpless and unlucky, know that you have the power to turn things around. The first step, in this case, would be gaining more clarity.
15. Redirect perspectives
When you are clear of the recurring patterns of misfortune, it might seem like an end-of-the-road situation. The highlight of this realization is an opportunity to rewrite your narrative. When you change your approach and focus on the growth aspect of the given circumstance, you learn to be resilient. An optimistic point of view helps you accept lessons and move on.
16. Nurture resilience
While bad karma seems cyclic, the easiest way to break out of it is by acceptance. Be open to listening to others’ experiences, and share your own. When you give to the community, it gives back to you. When you build a support system, it is easier to be brave. Turns out, good experiences are just as abundant as bad experiences. The only difference here is in the ability to tell yourself a good story.
RELATED READING: 10 Powerful Techniques To Control Your Mind
17. Invite change
To break the cycle, you must seek unfamiliarity. Although it sounds scary at first, transformation is possible with baby steps. Embracing positivity helps cultivate an attitude for shedding bad luck. Testing boundaries and trying experiences outside your comfort zone are good stepping stones to accommodate change.
18. Take action
Be proactive. Once you’ve got the taste for change, you can be confident in your abilities to move forward. To make a difference, you have to first overcome discomfort. My mentor recommends making a friend out of discomfort. Growth comes easily when you can adapt quickly, without much resistance.
Conclusion
Luck and effort go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other. It’s easier to call someone lucky, without knowing the effort it took them to get there. Embracing chance requires work and personal strife. Ways to get good luck don’t seem impossible when we do what we can.
There is some luck you are bound to encounter. Regardless, it is important to be consistent in your efforts. You might be luckier than you think. Give yourself a chance! Which of these ways will you be including to receive more luck?
FAQs
1. What is the best way to increase luck in daily life?
Being positive is the best way to increase your chances of luck. When you prove your resilience in not being thrown off despite the kind of experiences that come your way, luck stays longer.
2. Do lucky charms really work?
There is a scientific study that claims good luck charms work. The charms boost self-confidence and enable people to perform significantly better than those without. It’s safe to say your lucky charm indeed brings you luck!
3. How does your environment affect your luck?
A cluttered environment is a reflection of a cluttered mind. When things are disorganized, both physically and mentally, going about daily tasks feels fallible. It is important to keep your mind and your space tidy to invite good luck. Chinese feng shui operates on similar principles.
4. Can changing your mindset attract more opportunities?
A positive outlook has a powerful effect on luck. When you are more open to new experiences and learning, it is easier to embrace formidable opportunities.
