Our Desires and Our Luck
There is no reason to believe that opportunity knocks only once; but whether it knocks once, twice, or ten times, only the self-knowing mind, the mind that knows what it wants and what it will risk, is likely to recognize the real nature of the chance and act accordingly. Often the claims of competing desires are so strong as to make a decision difficult. No matter how complex the problem presented by chance, a firm set of values for our various desires helps us to find the lucky answer.
By testing chances against our personal values we sometimes perceive luck where others would see none. By knowing what you really want in life, you may detect opportunities that others may not understand or value.
Here is a core principle of life: The person who knows the relative importance, for himself, of conflicting desires is best prepared to recognize the favorable chance as it passes, and to transform it into luck. It is not easy to prioritize your desires, but it is absolutely vital if you want to bring more luck into your life. Fortunately, modern psychology has greatly clarified this problem. It tells us that a person’s desires are not fixed and rigid; rather, they are malleable, ever-changing, and evolving in us from cradle to grave.
As adults we have ten basic, universal desires:
1. Love, both romantic and the affections of friends and family.
2. Procreation, with the urge to sex, marriage, and children.
3. Group status, or a firm place in the community or group.
4. Prestige, or recognition by others of our talents and distinctions.
5. Economic security and a satisfying standard of living.
6. Self-respect, or a sense of living up to meritorious standards of behavior.
7. Self-expression, or the use of one’s abilities and talents.
8. Faith, or belief in a universal purpose or goal outside ourselves.
9. Long life, specifically the prospect of long-term physical and mental vigor.
10. Good health and freedom from illness.
The evaluation of desires is a highly personal matter. Everyone has, in effect, a private blend of desires. Some want more love than others, some more prestige, some more economic security, and so on. This difference profoundly affects our ideas of what is lucky. We must also distinguish honestly between basic desires versus compulsions or obsessions. Unchecked desires can balloon into obsessions or addictions, which destroy our luck.