To believe wholeheartedly in Cosmic Ordering?

[Reality]

Or really just the power of positive thinking.

I'm very much an optimist and tend to think I've had a pretty charmed life. You could spin it another way, as I've had homelessness, a shit marriage, depression, debt, poverty blah blah blah. But all that notwithstanding, I think I'm an incredibly lucky person. My ups outweigh my downs, by far.

Anyway, about six years ago I did a proper Cosmic Ordering shizzle (marker pen on my hand and everything, a la Noel Edmonds), and got a windfall, a new car and a new house within six months (which was exactly what I'd 'asked' for).

I'm not woo enough to think it was all handed to me on a plate because I asked for it, but I do genuinely think that if you visualise what you want, write it down if you feel the need, and believe in it, you can make anything happen. I've done it again in the last few months, and things seem to be working out better than I could have imagined.

What do you think? Do you believe in the power of positivity, and that we make our own luck, or do think it's all a pile of toss? Do you find that being optimistic leads to taking more chances which in turn leads to greater opportunities, or do you think I should stop barking on about it when clearly it's just blind luck and/or coincidence?

And yes I have had celebratory so I might be on a bit of a positivity buzz.

AIBU?

YANBU if it makes you happy. it is toss though

Oh and yes you should probably "stop banging on about it".

And also, don't let it stop YOU taking credit for things YOU have made happen.

As long as its not hurting anyone else, you can believe whatever you wish. I don't think it works because otherwise everyone would win the lotto but, up to you.

I'm in favour of positive thinking but not at the expense of realistic thinking.

So not forcing it - instead thinking what you need in the moment realistically instead of beating yourself up for not being Pollyanna.

I don't believe in actually affecting the universe but do believe that you can help your own brain to organise itself and get what you need.

If it works for you, it works. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Belief can work wonders.

It's confirmation bias in action, I suppose. Still, better to have positivity confirmed than to see insults and doom everywhere mentioning no names

Do you think it's toss? I think it has merit. I think it makes you work towards things and follow opportunities that you might otherwise iginore

For eg, I 'asked for' a cash windfall, a new car and a new house. I focussed on it and through my own efforts, and a bit of luck, they all happened (compensation from the useless CSA, hard work and saying yes to opportunities, and taking risks).

If I hadn't focussed on exactly what I wanted the universe to 'give' me, I might not have chased the things I wanted so hard.

And I like thinking it's a leeeeetle bit woo, because that makes me smile.

Oh, and I don't think it woudl work on anything unrealistic, like winning the lottery or becoming CEO of Gin Enterprises

And this time round I asked for a flat stomach and a new job.

MOnths of 5:2 and Shred, and lots of job applications later, and TADAAAA, thank you Universe and me.

I think life is a combination of chance, and your attitude towards it. There are some situations, both good and bad, that you have no influence over. Your outlook on life, however, you do, and of course if you are more positive and more out going in your approach, then things are more likely to come your way.

Either way will join in the

In that sense then yes it probably does work if you find that it motivates you.

'Cosmic ordering' - YABU
'Positive thinking' - if it involves some actual planning and doing things not just sitting around waiting - YANBU.

If it's true then no child would die of a terminal illness. You're effectively saying that parents aren't focussing enough otherwise their children would've made a recovery.

Did you see the Derren Brown thing about luck? He put a 'lucky statue' on a village green and loads of people rubbed it and then did things they woudln't ordinarily do, like entering competitions and taking chances.

V v interesting.

I am quite irritatingly Pollyanna. It gets me through, though

Oh Fanny, that's unfair.

Of course I'm not, and I think I covered that with the brief list of shit I have dealt with DESPITE my sunny demeanor.

I thought I was quite clearly being lighthearted with this.

I think it's a lot of ignorant bullshit that people spout when drunk.

My daughter was the most positive, contented, hopeful person I knew. She wanted very much to live. She had goals we wrote down and worked on.

She died of leukaemia.

Much as we don't care to admit it, there are many things in life that we cannot control for utter FA.

I think it only works because someone who believes in it will then change their actions and make stuff happen. Like it makes them focus more.

If you asked for a flat stomach and then sat around eating junk it wouldn't have happened. If you'd done the diet without having asked then it still would have though.

I don't necessarily agree with the theory but I certainly don't think the op is saying parents of terminally ill kids and other people with shit happening to them aren't focused enough, that's taking the whole thing to s ridiculous level to make a point.

Well, that went well .

What I mean is, saying op thinks that means you (not the op) are taking it too far to prove a point.

I'm actually also rather inclined to think I have a charmed life but its not 'the universe' - just a lucky conjunction of genetics, a bit of ability to work well, a generally optimistic disposition.

That may also be genetic. My mother used to claim we'd never had bad weather on holiday. In truth, we had an average selection of British weather but we took along the essentials - appropriate clothing, inquiring minds and a good attitude.

Thanks Turnip.

Expat, and anyone else, that really was not at all what I meant, and I apologise if that's how you read it.

Oh, and I'm not drunk yet.

Grimma, we had the same holidays. It was always sunny except when it rained and nothing bad ever happened except when it did.

Look on the bright side, OP- you had a full twelve minutes of happiness there before MN mizzed all over it. I've seen worse.

I agree with expat. I'm glad for you OP though - glad that things are working out nicely but that would have happened anyway you know. We get absolutely no say in what shit or good fortune presents itself to us and to believe otherwise is just - how can I put this politely?? - well, I suppose it's cheaper and less harmful than taking mind altering drugs?

I think I'll just continue to sit here and marvel at the shower of shite that continues to rain down upon me - there are blessings in there somewhere and I'll concentrate on those!

Sorry reality. Just having to deal with deciding some treatment for dd2. Caught me at a bad time. I know it was light hearted really, ignore me!