Ever since that one incredibly lucky streak in July that left us $4,400 richer in lump sum and $40 richer each month, J and I have been rolling in the financial luck. It’s as if we’ve been eating horseshoes for breakfast.
I have been updating you each week about our financial wins, and there have been plenty. From the government sending us three cheques, to getting free movie tickets, price adjustments and increased business activity, things over here are going nuts. See week one here, week two here, and week three here.
Even though we never buy lottery tickets, I have been joking with J that we should, because we would probably win.
I actually get excited to get home and open the mail, because every second envelope we open lately has either been a cheque or news that will impact our finances for the better.
I’m definitely not complaining and we have no reason to think that the buck stops here – ha ha, literally.
As airy fairy as it sounds, I have an inkling that a lot of this good luck has been because we have been manifesting it through gratefulness and positive thinking.
Being Grateful, Positive Thinking and the Avalanche Effect
Our financial lucky streak really started a couple of months ago, after we returned home after a long weekend in our hometown for our wedding.
Our entire huge, messy family, blood and non-blood related, came from all over Canada to love on us that week. People who seemed apathetic before the festivities began showed up, suited up, and helped to make our wedding so damn special.
The little things that I was stressed out about pre-wedding melted away; I didn’t give a crap if nobody read the signs that I worked so hard on for the tables or that the wind made my veil almost eat my face on my walk down the aisle. All that mattered was that everyone was there, for us, to celebrate us.
I can say right now with certainty that neither my (now) husband nor I have ever felt so incredibly blessed, loved, and supported than during our wedding week, and I think that launched our good luck.
When you are incredibly humbled and grateful for what you have, you feel more positive. When you are more positive, you attract more positivity. Like attracts like.
It’s that avalanche effect.
Positivity Kicks You Into Action
A positive person is generally a more productive person, because they are more motivated. In fact, on Zen Habits, Leo posted the number one motivation hack as being: “always think positive”.
There’s this incredible focus and inspiration that is generated by the type of community we experienced, with that type of love, and that much support. It feels like magic, maybe, but it’s not; it is this energy that you feel that gives you the ability to get things done, that propels you forward and makes things more clear.
Our positive feelings and the thoughts of our bright future made us recognize the low hanging fruit all around us. We took opportunities that we normally wouldn’t have taken, either because of a lack of noticing them, or because it seemed too much hassle to do so.
We recognized the luck as it came, and didn’t just write it off as a one-time thing.
Counting Your “Blessings”
Social media rips on the people who hashtag #blessed after every little thing, and while it’s pretty silly to feel #blessed over a pumpkin spice latte, there is a lot of power in feeling grateful and counting your blessings.
In fact, many lifestyle gurus and people who have realized great success in their lives attribute gratitude to their prosperity. This article by Geoffrey James sums it up nicely.
Being grateful makes things clear. It puts things in perspective and cuts out the noise. When you’re thinking about how grateful you are for the opportunity to make money from home, you aren’t bemoaning having to do your own taxes or clean your own home office.
Being grateful clears your head of the mundane, small negativities that creep into the mind, leaving more emotional room to create, grow, and prosper.
Making Your Own Luck
Was our financial lucky streak pure luck? Of course not; there’s no magic in this world. The creators of “The Secret” franchise would perhaps leave it at just that: manifestation and visualization. I’m not convinced that explains it.
Being grateful and positive is extremely motivating. Some things were just luck for us, yes, but the increased business success and some of the other savings and earnings opportunities came because we were paying more attention. We didn’t have negative feelings or emotions clouding our mind’s eye, so there was nothing fogging up the opportunities available to us.
We have experienced much the same since we went on our honeymoon in mid September. Travel has a knack of stoking gratitude in even the least grateful of people, especially travel to the developing world.
Stay grateful and positive, even when it’s hard to do so, and you’ll make your own luck by allowing yourself to de-clutter your mind, making room for more awareness of opportunities.
Things get hard sometimes, yes, and often because of factors outside of our control. I’d be remiss if I didn’t recognize that. But if you make a habit out of practicing gratitude, opportunities will be more easily taken, and no matter how hard things get and for whatever reason, you’ll always have something to be thankful for.
Very inspiring. Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving Emily!
It is wonderful when you receive unexpected money, or fina lost money in your jeans or something like that–and the amount usually doesn’t matter, but of course, the larger the better!
When Eric landed his firefighter job this year, our savings went through the roof. But it took us four hardcore years of scrimping and sacrificing to get to this point. So worth it!
It’s important to recognize that it’s hard work to save up a lot of money but to be grateful that you have the opportunity 🙂
I’m hoping to find this to be true for me as well – I’m happier and more grateful for what I have than I’ve ever been!
I think if you look closely you’ll notice that it’s already true!
I don’t like to take this too far (a la the Secret) but I definitely have noticed on more than one occasion that donating money is followd by a windfall. And positive thinking in general about money definitely makes for a happier me.
Oh, the Secret takes it way too far, a la voodoo and magic. I think it’s more that positive thinking and gratitude helps people recognize opportunities.
What an inspiring post! I’m somewhat pessimistic by nature, but I’ve been working on changing my ways and looking on the bright side more often. Finding and counting my blessings is big part of this. Thanks for the reminder!
I’m glad you found it inspiring, Kayla! Some people keep a gratitude journal and write down the three things that make them grateful each day. That may help!
I am truly inspired Sarah. I’ll apply this to myself. I will be grateful for everything I receive, whether it’s small or big. Most importantly, I’ll be positive despite any circumstances I am in. Thanks!
I love your attitude in this post, Sarah. You and your husband are fortunate but you’ve also created your own luck – the best of both worlds! I’m going to apply these principals towards my own personal finance, especially over the next few months.
Very nice! Be thankful for your blessings, put your worries in God’s hands and enjoy every day as there may never be a tomorrow.