PERSONAL/ BELIEF SPECIAL.............. Believe in Yourself - Make your own Luck!

Believe in Yourself -  Make your own Luck!  All good things -including luck -begin with a positive thought “Luck is believing you're lucky.“ A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams The next time you are down in the dumps, don't blame your luck. People go through ups and downs. But changing their own luck and destiny is in their hands. According to Richard Wiseman, professor of psychology and author of Luck Factor, unlucky people can change their fortune. He studied 1,000 people and came to this conclusion ­ in tough moments, it's resilience that turns bad luck into a good one. “Lucky people aren't always lucky ­ they handle adversity better,“ says Wiseman. The trick doesn't lie in the sleight of hand but the state of your mind. This Diwali, when you are spreading out your cards, whatever your fortune; remember that in real life, the rules are in your hands. You can overturn your bad fortune and make it a good one just by believing in yourself. Luck follows people who do not get gloomy when facing a problem, and seek the world. Life coach Malminder Gill believes luck is a skill you cultivate. “Everything you see around you started with a thought; that led to an idea. Acting upon this idea brings it to life. Thus, when you think of yourself as lucky, you increase your self-confidence.“ Lucky people make the most of bad situations and don't fold up ­ they get stronger and keep going. Wiseman's golden lucky rules are: Maximise opportunities Keep trying new things Listen to hunches, especially if it's an area where you have some experience. In short, trust your intuition You don't need tarot card readers, astrologers or coffee cup readers to predict your future. Indulge in lucky thinking, and it transforms your life. Wiseman writes in his book, “Lucky people create, notice, and act upon the chance opportunities in their lives.“ American talk show host Oprah Winfrey believes in something similar ­ “Life is a mat ter of preparation meeting opportunity.“ Spiritual healer and tarot card reader Dia Luman explains how... “Let's say you win a travel coupon to an exotic location, and need to leave in the next few days, but you don't have your passport ready. Which means you won't be able to enjoy what you won. Opportunity was the travel coupon, preparation would have been a ready passport.Most of the time, we create our own re ality. But the Universe doesn't under stand good or bad ­ it just resonates with you. Hence, you feel bad or out of luck when something like this happens. It's important to be prepared when the opportunity strikes.“ Research conducted at the University of Cologne, Germany, revealed that believing in the magical or a superstition can also have a positive effect. In a test, some participants playing golf were told their ball was `lucky'. They sank 6.4 putts out of 10, nearly two more putts on an average, than those who weren't told the ball was lucky. Lysann Damisch, co-au thor of the Cologne study says on a website, “Our results suggest that the activation of a superstition can indeed yield performance-improving effects.“ So the next time you wear your lucky necklace, don't think you are being silly. Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz wears a necklace given by a friend because it brings her luck and makes her look younger. British actor James McAvoy says `White Rabbit' on the first of every month to the person he sees first, as he believes it will bring good luck. Supermodel Heidi Klum, popstars Madonna and Rihanna wear a hamsa necklace for luck. Spiritual healer and feng shui coach SBS Surendran puts it simply. “The concept of luck is nothing but energy, in reality. When the energy is overwhelming and affects the person, it is perceived as bad luck; when it is rejuvenating, it's referred to as good luck. Our thoughts decide our waves, and our fortune.“ In other words, our intention has a strong influence on the outcome of what we pursue in life. Charu Kapur, Theta healer advises, “Don't be a creature of routine. Meet new people. Don't follow the same path in life. Change things around you. Even during your hard times, always feel lucky. Simply get luck on your side by desiring it.“ Research says that believing something is lucky for you, positively enhances your thoughts to the extent that luck actually starts favouring you. Here are a few wellknown people who believe in their charm bracelets, habits etc... Tiger Woods, one of the world's top golfers, considers red to be a very lucky colour. While boarding a plane, Jennifer Anniston, puts her right foot in first; she taps on the outside of the plane. Supermodel Naomi Campbell, popstars Madonna and Rihanna wear delicate evil eye charms around their necks. Victoria's Secret model Heidi Klum has a hidden bag of her own baby teeth under her spaghetti strap, for good luck. Bjorn Borg's beard was more than just about looking cool. The Swedish tennis legend would always grow his beard before the Wimbledon for good luck. Hitler favoured the number 7, he had the Nazi swastika designed to resemble an ancient Buddhist symbol representing the wheel of life. Winston Churchill petted black cats to obtain good luck. Coldplay's Chris Martin has a pre-concert ritual ­ he doesn't go on stage without brushing his teeth. Shilpa Shetty wears an emerald ring that she considers lucky. Actress Vidya Balan wears bead bracelets for good luck. Brad Pitt reportedly wears a shark tooth necklace for luck. Colin Farrel offered a 16,000 reward to the one who would return his 'lucky belt' given by his father. Cameron Diaz is known to wear a lucky necklace given by her friend. She also knocks on wood. Benicio Del Toro, nominated for Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his film Traffic, wore a ring with a centre of wood instead of stone, so he could knock on wood anytime.