According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary the definition of the word luck is: "To prosper or succeed especially through chance or good fortune." However, I don't believe anything happens by chance. I believe there is an order and precision to the functioning of our universe. We live in a world governed by laws unseen. The law of cause and effect is an example; what we put out returns to us. When an occurrence is deemed lucky, it's in fact usually the result of a sequence of events that occurred before the magical moment.
We have to nurture our thoughts and desires before we can see them emerge into the light. Think of a desire as an apple seed. It's one thing to plant the seed in the ground and leave it there, unattended. It's quite another to make sure it's watered and the soil is fertilized. Organisms don't thrive without care, and neither do your desires. Sometimes, manifesting them requires no more than focusing the mind through the setting of intentions and daily prayers. At other times it takes more -- the experience of setbacks and failures -- before the dream is manifested. Each setback, like each prayer, strengthens our resolve, thereby laying a solid foundation for the materialization to come.
This is one reason that a person who becomes an overnight success, without having years of determination, work and diligence under their belt, so often experiences a swift downfall. It takes a certain character to maintain success. As the trunk of a tree reminds us, growth and solidity are crucial to withstanding the storms of life. The importance of the journey one goes through cannot be overstated. Yet, most people are so concerned with getting to the final destination that they pay little heed to the journey required to get there. In reality, the crux of life is what happens while we are trying to get from Point A to Point B. The beliefs and skills acquired on the road to success may be key to the outcome.
Consider a diamond. As elegant and pristine as it may seem, it has usually been formed in very high temperatures and pressure, deep within the Earth's mantle. To notice only the shine or brilliance of a diamond is the equivalent of labeling a person or situation as lucky: You are judging only the end result, without taking into consideration the process that gave rise to it. Try to remember the big picture.
If you are in a demanding situation that's taking a lot out of you, and you don't know whether to continue, take a moment for reflection: Imagine yourself out of the situation at hand and out onto the bigger canvas of your life. If everything you are doing is in alignment with your long-term goals, then you should consider yourself to be on the right path, pressure and all. Think of yourself as the diamond going through its process of formation, before the alignment with brilliance, or 'luck', appears. However, if you feel the tension you are experiencing is not in alignment with your future goals, then it may be time to reevaluate your life.
Being under pressure is fine, provided that the reward of 'luck' still looms on the horizon. But to withstand pressure that is not in alignment with your dreams and desires is to waste your energy. Acknowledge the difference and plan your steps accordingly. Always keep the big picture in mind to alleviate confusion or stress.
MichelleZarrin.com