Lottery winners are few and far between . The same holds true for heirs and heiresses.
Years ago, when Pennsylvania started having a lottery, I decided that the key to resolving my financial problems as well as virtually every other problem would be to win the lottery. I pretty much assumed that if I dutifully bought a few tickets every few weeks, I was bound to win one of the drawings.
That kind of wishful thinking got pretty old after a few months of not winning. I already had accepted the fact that I was not going to inherit a fortune, and now I had to accept the fact that I was not likely going to be a big lottery winner.
That insight reinforced the realization that if I was going to be successful in any way it would have to occur through activity rather than passivity. In other words, I would have to work to achieve success. That has become one of my guiding principles (although I still buy lottery tickets a few times a year).
As important as that principle is, it is one that people often forget under the pressures of every day life.
Whether we are talking about a job or a marriage or other relationship or child rearing or learning a new skill or hobby, the same principle holds true. We don’t get good at something by passively waiting for success to happen.
If we go out and work at something and achieve success, it has a definite positive effect on our self-image. The opposite is also true. If we don’t try to do the things that enhance our chances of being successful, we can convince ourselves that we are incompetent, uncoordinated, unpopular, or victimized by bad luck.
If you find yourself thinking those kinds of negative thoughts, try asking yourself: Did I continue to try or did I give up?
Lottery winners and heirs and heiresses can achieve success by being passive – but there aren’t many of them. For most of us, success can only occur as a result of effort.