What are your superstitions and why?

[Runum]

OK, time to fess up what are your superstitions and why?

Mine:

Bragging, I've always felt that bad things come to those that brag.

I may have a new one though. Talking about any deal before it's closed. I just lost one(my only deal loss so far) and I posted details of it online before it closed. Maybe too much too soon? Bad Karma?

OK, what's yours?

 

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[Yankees338]

I don't shower...

Lol, kidding. But I have a bunch during baseball. When my arm feels good and I start to get cocky (when I'm pitching), I know that I will probably struggle. On the contrary, when my arm feels sore and weak and I feel like I'm going to do poorly, I end up being more under control and effective than I expect.

I've come to the conclusion that I just have to go out there and have fun. The less I seem to care about failing, the better I seem to perform.

...I guess that's kind of true everywhere -- not just on the baseball diamond.

 

[mtnman]

Mine would be selfishness.

Permanent selfishness leads to scarcity, internally and externally.

Why?

It kills dreams. Being selfish confines one self to one's self.



Oh and cat's! Mandangle, how could I forget! Peter, do the honors?

 

[yveskleinsky]

Come on man, cats are cool.

 

[Peter2]

Oh and cat's! Mandangle, how could I forget! Peter, do the honors?

.:smxB:.

 

[hakrjak]

My Mom is from 60 miles south of London, so I heed all of the ancient European superstitions.... Some of these sound pretty ridiculous, but they've been in our family for thousands of years -- so who am I to stop following them? Some of these include:

- Never put new shoes on the table (I have no idea, but this is one of the highest degrees of bad luck one can bring down upon themselves!? Also never put shoes on the table, period... )

- Never move a broom, or it will sweep your good luck away (When you move from 1 house to the next, always leave your broom behind for the next person. Not only is it good luck to leave a good broom behind, but it's good Karma too )

- Don't break a mirror (Obviously, 7 yrs of bad luck...)

- Finding pennies on the ground is lucky (We don't obey the "Heads Up" are the only lucky kind rule...)

- Never throw food in the fireplace or into any fire

- Knock on wood to avert bad luck

- Itchy hands mean you will be coming into money soon

My Grandmother was also skilled at doing things like reading Tea Leaves in addition to following all these interesting traditions. When my Mom was 16, after reading her tea leaves -- she told her that she would marry a man with an Australian hat, but he would not be an Australian. Sounded ridiculous at the time, but when my Mom was 26 -- into the pub walked my Father, wearing a camo australian bush hat that he had brought back from Vietnam.

Cheers,

- Hakrjak

 

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[Runum]

I don't shower...

Lol, kidding. But I have a bunch during baseball. When my arm feels good and I start to get cocky (when I'm pitching), I know that I will probably struggle. On the contrary, when my arm feels sore and weak and I feel like I'm going to do poorly, I end up being more under control and effective than I expect.

I've come to the conclusion that I just have to go out there and have fun. The less I seem to care about failing, the better I seem to perform.

...I guess that's kind of true everywhere -- not just on the baseball diamond.

I really figured you would say that you don't change underwear or socks during ball season. The shower thing almost made me spew coke.:smilielol:

 

[Runum]

Oh and cat's! Mandangle, how could I forget! Peter, do the honors?

He he. I'm sitting here and my lap cat is reading this as I type.:cheers:

 

[fanocks2003]

OK, time to fess up what are your superstitions and why?

Mine:

Bragging, I've always felt that bad things come to those that brag.

I may have a new one though. Talking about any deal before it's closed. I just lost one(my only deal loss so far) and I posted details of it online before it closed. Maybe too much too soon? Bad Karma?

OK, what's yours?

I guess my main superstition would be to promise things that I might not be able to deliver upon. I like to know if it is possible for me to deliver, because I hate being a lier. It is something related with considering myself as an honest man. I know I would not be able to coop with myself being seen as a criminal. I don't kid you with this (it is not written to awaken your sympathy at all. This is just a very true fact about who I am):If I ever end up jail for fraud or anything related to that I will do as the former businessmen would have done (those with the same kind of integrity), shoot my brains out. I am not a quitter otherwise, but if you have been convicted for fraud your business career is pretty much over anyway (your legitimate career that is). And I can't see myself as being someone who you can't trust. And I can't see myself as a working stiff either (nothing wrong being one, I just can't see myself in that position and respect myself).

Also I hate people calling me a "phony" or a "fraud". If you really want to insult me, use these words and I will make my best effort to prove you wrong. Just look at the discussion between JScott and me. I just can't help it, "I will strike down on thee" if you do.

 

[Peter2]

He he. I'm sitting here and my lap cat is reading this as I type.:cheers:

Just for you.

 

[veli]

"Whoa...every time I'm superstitious about something, bad things happen...therefore I don't have any superstitions"

Jscott: I'd say you are superstitious about having superstitions!

 

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[PEERless]

I believe in luck. But I believe you can change your luck. I believe you should all buy my book and learn how, LOL!

 

[hakrjak]

I believe in luck as well. My girl the Psychologist says that it has to do with my personality. Because I'm such a laid back guy, I'm more willing to allow outside forces to impact / effect / have some control in my life. Because she's an absolute control/OCD freak -- she doesn't believe in luck, and believes that she can control every little part of her life.

I think the truth is somewhere in the middle -- but I don't think there is a scientist on Earth that can provide proof that you can completely discount luck.

Annecdotally, I have seen Luck in full effect too many times to count. I'm definitely one of the luckiest persons I know, and I'm not counting the type of luck you make for yourself either -- I'm talking about the kind of luck that lands in your lap when you are least expecting it.

Example: Last weekend in Vegas, my girl lost $100 bucks playing video poker. When she went to the bathroom, I told her not to worry because I'd make it back before she returned. I dropped $20 into a $1 slot machine and hit a $160 mini-jackpot. When she got back, I had the ticket printed out and waiting for her. This kind of thing happens to me literally all the time haha.. :banana:

Cheers,

- Hakrjak

 

[mtnman]

I'd go with JScott and say I don't really have any superstitions.

And I don't believe in luck Skyler. LOL

 

[hakrjak]

I'd go with JScott and say I don't really have any superstitions.

And I don't believe in luck Skyler. LOL

Ok Han Solo. "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Seriously though, for some reason everybody I know personally that says they don't believe in luck doesn't seem to have much of it. Again, I'm not talking about the luck you make -- I'm talking about the effect of outside forces on your life.

- Hakrjak

 

[Bilgefisher]

Hakrjack, many of mine are the same.

-Black cats
-broken mirrors
-spilled salt must be thrown over the left shoulder
-If you find a penny it must be heads up. If not, leave it alone. If it is heads up it goes in the right side of your left shoe.
-knock on wood
-never talk "what if" about death. I had a teacher give a lecture about death as part a chapter in English class. As part of the lecture he asked, "What would you do if one of us wasn't here tomorrow? How would you react?" He went home and died a few hours later from an unknown heart condition.
-never walk across a grave
-never count your chickens before they hatch. If I do the outcome is bad, if I don't its usually good.
-13th Floor or 13th row is bad luck. Friday the 13th.
-Highway 666 in southwestern Colorado is cursed.
-never give a wallet as a gift without money in it.


Nautical
-Always refer to a boat in the female reference. Take care of her and she'll take care of you.
-Never ever rename a boat.
-A boat must be christened.
-Do not ever use scraps from a previous disaster to build a new boat. "USS New York"
-If someone dies while building a boat, it is forever cursed.
-A cursed boat should be decommissioned. The USS Greenville. Folks would change their orders to not serve on her.
-Never disturb a sunken boat, or grave
-dolphins swimming with a sub is a sign that the patrol will go well. (Ive seen this, its a spiritual sight)
-The USS Hawkbill was cursed to begin with SSN 666 was her hull number.

Hawkbill was sometimes called “The Devil Boat” or the Devilfish because of chapter 13 of the Revelation of Saint John the Divine, which begins “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea....” and ends “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six.”

-Never name a boat for one that has previously sunk. "USS Yorktown"
-Ladies I apologize, but we were always superstitious whenever a female was on our boat.
-saluting the flag when coming on board a ship harkens from an old superstition and is good luck to salute.


I have more, but I believe in all these superstitions and I am a very superstitious person at times.

 

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[PEERless]

I believe in luck as well.

Let's talk, Hak, you might have some fun anecdotes to include in my book. PM me.

And I don't believe in luck Skyler. LOL

That's OK. I didn't either.

Everybody I know personally that says they don't believe in luck doesn't seem to have much of it.

We ALL know people like that. Sad-sacks for whom nothing ever goes right...?

I don't believe in luck AT ALL...I find that things go my way all the time...When I'm in a jam, things always seem to go my way to get me out of it. In fact, my friends and family would all say that I'm super lucky...I believe that my generally optimistic attitude focuses on the good things that happen, and filters out the bad things. And I believe that negative people...ocus on the negatives and filter out the memories of the good things...there are a lot of things in life that we control more than we realize.

It's all semantics, JScott. Sounds like luck to me!

 

[PEERless]

Do you believe someone can *consistently* do better than 50/50 in calling a coin flip (or other similar tests for "luck")?

I don't know if I believe it. I haven't seen it done. Maybe I should host that contest and put the results in my book. Thanks for the idea!

That said, let me clarify: the luck I'm selling is NOT supernatural. I'm just helping people improve their luck by (yes) improving their outlook.

 

[Bilgefisher]

I fully understand all my superstitions are mostly without merit. It still doesn't prevent the OCD side of me from thinking about them.

I also believe in luck or perceived luck. In my experience optimistic people consider themselves lucky. Truth be told they probably are not, but there glass half full attitude sees lucky moments when others see failure.

Do I think that I stubbed my toe because I didn't throw salt over my shoulder, no not really. That still doesn't prevent me from throwing salt over my shoulder anyway.

 

[PEERless]

...optimistic people consider themselves lucky. Truth be told they probably are not, but there glass half full attitude sees lucky moments when others see failure.

Do I think that I stubbed my toe because I didn't throw salt over my shoulder, no not really...

But doesn't stubbing your toe ruin your whole day? Doesn't that one little bit of bad luck put you in a mood that ruins your luck for the rest of the day? That's how a losing streak or a run of bad luck starts. (The same is true for good luck.)

Great points, BTW.

 

[Bilgefisher]

But doesn't stubbing your toe ruin your whole day? Doesn't that one little bit of bad luck put you in a mood that ruins your luck for the rest of the day? That's how a losing streak or a run of bad luck starts. (The same is true for good luck.)

Great points, BTW.

Interesting point. For many folks, yes it would ruin their day. They allow one problem to infect everything else in their surroundings. I think the optimistic folks require many bad things in conjunction before they see the negative in the moment.

Like JScott, I play poker. I had a 500 big bet down streak. It took 300bb before I saw the negative in the situation. Others it may take only a 50 bet downswing and they feel unlucky. Or some still may wait till 500 big bets until bad luck is perceived. I guess its kind of depends on how thick of a skin you have and how you percieve your surrondings.

I appologize, I haven't read your book yet. I do believe changing your perception on these bad things can prevent you from going on life tilt and making things worse then they actually are.

 

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[PEERless]

Fantastic additions to the conversation and (perhaps) my manuscript!

The toe-stubbing analogy is already included, so it's funny that Bilge mentioned it as an example.

I think everyone could benefit from a little optimism. And if optimism also happens to shift the forces of the universe in your favor, bonus!

Will people who change their outlook, change their luck? Yes, if only because they update their "filters."

 

[hatterasguy]

Business? Don't get cocky before the deal is inked.

Most of my superstitions are related to the water:

1. A boat is always she, always who respect.
2. Never leave on a big trip on Friday. Not a weekend trip, a big one.
3. Don't change the name.
4. Never name a boat after a cursed ship.
5. Don't get cocky around the ocean, and think your hot for slipping in a weather window or something. Mother ocean doesn't like that.


With boats you have to be carefull, get some bad mojo on board and you are screwed.

 

[Runum]

You are talking about stubbing your toe. I had a fridge fall on my leg the other day. Moving it for a relative downstairs. It hurt like mad and I had to ice but that still didn't mess up my day. Just my shin.

 

[mtnman]

But doesn't stubbing your toe ruin your whole day? Doesn't that one little bit of bad luck put you in a mood that ruins your luck for the rest of the day? That's how a losing streak or a run of bad luck starts. (The same is true for good luck.)

Great points, BTW.

Ok, you have my attention now. :bsflag:
You don't have choice over all circumstances in life. If that were the case, we would all be dealt the same deck.

You do have a choice of your reaction to your circumstances.

By saying a particular event or series of events set the tone for bad luck, bad day, bad whatever, calls for the raising of the flag.

You can choose to react and complete your thoughts on the matter and finish it out right there. The rest of your day is up to you.

I know this was an example, but I have tested these scenarios in my own life. I'm not saying I'm the poster child or anything. Things can still ruin my day! lol But for the most part, they do not have to. Everyday above ground is a good day. Anything less, can be handled.

Back when I was practicing meditation daily, my state of mind was much more neutral throughout the day, which made this much easier. Point being, it is possible to have an event occur, accept it (brush it off or **ck, Sh**, mo****fu****, whatever you need to do), relax, state your intent, and move forward unaffected. Just for reference, my preferred method was/is a breathing and visualization technique that I learned from hypnosis.

 

[mtnman]

Fantastic additions to the conversation and (perhaps) my manuscript!

The toe-stubbing analogy is already included, so it's funny that Bilge mentioned it as an example.

I think everyone could benefit from a little optimism. And if optimism also happens to shift the forces of the universe in your favor, bonus!

Will people who change their outlook, change their luck? Yes, if only because they update their "filters."

Preselling Skyler? Say it ain't so. lol :smxB:

 

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[Merkin Man]

By saying a particular event or series of events set the tone for bad luck, bad day, bad whatever, calls for the raising of the flag.

You can choose to react and complete your thoughts on the matter and finish it out right there. The rest of your day is up to you.

I agree 100% with this statement.

I *used to be* one of those people that stubbing my toe early in the day could ruin the rest of it. For Years.

Then I realized that in doing so I was allowing myself to be weak, both in that moment when I went off on an "F"-bombing rant and also for allowing such a simple event to have such a major impact on me beyond that immediate moment.

It made me realize how little control I actually had over myself. It was kind of scary.

I have made it a point for the past couple of years to do everything in my power to control as much of my life as I possibly can - emotions, career, relationships - you name it. It is something I focus on daily, if not hourly.

It isn't easy. It's work. But I find that the more control I take over my life, the more good things, or luck, come my way.

 

[Merkin Man]

Just for reference, my preferred method was/is a breathing and visualization technique that I learned from hypnosis.

Don't know if you would be willing to share, but if you are, I would love to hear what works for you.

 

[PEERless]

Hey, stubbing my toe doesn't ruin MY day either, but I'm not writing the book for those of us who already have our s*** together...

 

[Merkin Man]

Hey, stubbing my toe doesn't ruin MY day either, but I'm not writing the book for those of us who already have our s*** together...

Indeed. And you bring up a good point, Skyler.

I think sometimes when people pose a question for advice here about a project they are working on (Luck-Struck in your case), the responding posts are from those who aren't necessarily the *target* of the project, and the feedback received can at times be perceived negatively.

I think your book could have mass success, I really do.

But you'll likely never sell it to people at this forum. Our mindsets are different than your target audience. But I believe there are millions of people who will look at a title like "Luck-Struck" and eat it up.