When good things happen, people tend to underestimate how much credit is due to their own efforts, and overestimate the influence of outside forces.
- That was just luck.
- It’s only because someone else did thus and such.
- I was in the right place at the right time.
Meanwhile, when something negative happens, the opposite is suddenly true. They get plenty of credit for the poor outcome, while the external forces are let off the proverbial hook.
- It’s all my fault.
- I always do thus and such wrong.
- If only I had done this, that or the other thing.
In either case, the scales are always tipped to favor luck for good things, and self for bad.
Why is that?
We are co-creators in this world. That means just as there are some things outside of our control, there are other things that we have the ability to influence. We owe it to ourselves to get clear on our power in either case. We deserve credit for the victories in our lives. Perhaps we were in the right place at the right time, but we were also prepared and ready for the opportunity when it came along.
History is created by people. Each individual is a key protagonist in that endeavor. Instead of relying on others, we must enact our own great drama of creativity. Then we can break through the shell of our limited self, advancing and improving ourselves day after day. ~Daisaku Ikeda
We have agency. Don’t relinquish your power, content to subject yourself to the whims of the universe. Sure, good and bad things “happen.” But be just as sure that you contribute to the good things. The more you recognize your power to co-create the wins in your life, the more victories you can accumulate.
Yes, Lady Luck deserves some of the credit, and so do you. Give credit where credit is due.
