Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

"The harder I work, the luckier I get." —Unknown

(Primarily because the good life based on the American Dream is fast fading from the realm of what is possible for many immigrants, I am reprising this article to remind us that despite all appearances, there’s still a lot we can do to affect the quality of our lives even during recessionary times. This is partly to counter the increasing tendency of many to lose hope and commit tragic acts of desperation, decimating entire families and themselves, because of financial pressures.)

DO you believe in luck? And if you do, have you got the moxie to be lucky?

On its face value, being in the right place at the right time seems to be completely random and impersonal, much like a lightning strike. We have all heard of the incredible luck of people who have won the lottery multiple times and each time, they at least, bought a ticket, took a chance and made themselves available for Lady Luck to smile at them. Some people modestly attribute their success to luck; others, to hard work but more than likely, it is a combination of both. They were lucky because they had gumption, persisted against all odds and worked their tails off.

The truth is, in some ways, we can influence good fortune with the attitude, motivation and oftentimes, with sheer moxie, with which we face our individual daily lives. If you expect bad things to happen to you or if you yourself confirm that you are unlucky, more than likely, it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. You might as well admit it. You’re a sad sack Eeyore with a permanent, black rain cloud hanging over your head. The negative energy you emit repels people who would otherwise be of help to you. You just might be the person who can brighten up a room simply by leaving it.

Perhaps, it’s your personality and there’s nothing you can do about it. You were wired to be negative and pessimistic and no motivational speaker can get you out of that rut. You’re one tough customer for the Holy Spirit to work wonders with. Fine. But for as long as you think that you have nothing to do with the ill fortune that seems to bedevil your life, you can just live with the dire consequences of fear, anxiety and unhappiness which result from being toxic and always believing the worst of things or of people.

Particularly during these uncertain times, no one can afford the luxury of a negative thought. But much more so for vulnerable immigrants who are on survival mode, an optimistic can-do attitude is a must. With this current economic morass, a big chunk of the immigrant population along with many more in the middle class, will regress back to survival mode, quite by default. Many who have moved to more comfortable levels but were caught by the real estate slump, lost their homes and jobs, may find themselves sliding back to square one and engaging in the daunting prospect of finding a job or retraining themselves to learn the skills that will help them find one.

A caveat: Jobs to your liking may be harder to find these days. For many in America and even in many parts of the globe, humble pie will be on the menu, even for those with the best credentials, abilities and track records. Be prepared to wait a long time until the clouds clear and the cadence of our modern lives move to an upswing. There’s a cycle and a rhythm to this. As in all fortuitous events, timing is everything.

If you have the moxie to make the right choices, it is amazing to note how luck always dovetails.

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( Published on April 4, 2009 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. B2 )