DO WE CREATE OUR OWN LUCK?
PERCEPTION IS PROJECTION
One of the biggest differences between successful and unsuccessful people is how they perceive the world around themselves. “Perception is Projection” is an empowering theme in NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming). It is the idea that we are hardwired to perceive things around us in a certain way, based on our filters. As we exercise control over how we perceive the world around us, we become more empowered and have greater control over our own happiness.
How would you like to have more control over how you experience life? How would you like to be one of those naturally “lucky” people? How would you like to attract more success and fortune into your life?
What we carry INSIDE dictates how we perceive the world OUTSIDE of us. Have you ever woken up in a bad mood? And, have you noticed how the world is a different place, simply based on your internal experience?
Have you ever met someone who’s lost money in a good economy, while others have made it? Have you ever met someone who’s made money, even in a bad economy?
SO, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
The difference is whether we allow the external world to control our internal experience, or whether our internal experience is controlling our external world.
Remember this: The words we use do not describe the world we live in. They create it.
In the next blog article, I’m going to talk more about how we filter the world, but just know that you only see a little bit of what’s going on around you. The world and events around you are filtered through you. What ends up in your mind is merely an object of what you believe or perceive as reality.
Do you think your beliefs, values, and past experiences change the world around you? You bet they do!
THE LUCK STUDY
British Psychologist, Richard Wiseman, performed a 10 year study on how “luck” plays a role in our lives. He began by examining the difference between people who believed they were “lucky” and those who believed they were “unlucky.” He found that self-professed unlucky people were more tense and anxious, and frequently missed out on opportunities.
Wiseman conducted a simple experiment to observe how unlucky people missed opportunities. He gave both lucky and unlucky people a newspaper, and asked them to count the number of photographs inside. It took the unlucky group approximately 2 minutes to count, whereas the lucky people took just seconds. Why? Because the second page of the newspaper contained the message “Stop counting – There are 43 photographs in this newspaper.” This message was boldly printed in 2 inch type, taking up ½ the page. Yet, the unlucky people missed it, and the lucky people saw it.
Wiseman also placed another large message halfway through the newspaper: “Stop counting, tell the experimenter you have seen this and win $250.” Again, the unlucky people missed the opportunity.
Overall, the “lucky” group of individuals made better decisions based on trusting their intuition. They were more likely to create self-fulfilling prophecies just by their positive expectations. They were more relaxed and open. And, they possessed a more resilient attitude that could turn bad luck into good.
Our beliefs and filters literally shape our reality. What we hold inside creates our world outside.