I used to work in research and development at an electronics company, but after I started feeling unwell due to stress, I decided to attend a Shinkiko retreat seminar and look at myself from the perspective of Ki. I felt strongly that I had to change my way of thinking. Until then, I had always felt that I had no luck, and I was constantly building up dissatisfaction.
From the perspective of Ki, the nature of Ki is that if you emit negative Ki, negative Ki will gather around you. So, in a sense, this chain of dissatisfaction was only natural.
A quick search reveals that the idea that “I’m lucky” has the power to change the outcome is scientifically supported. In a study by Damisch et al. at the University of Cologne, in a putt-putt golf experiment, participants who were told that it was a “lucky ball” had a 35% higher cup-in rate than participants who were not told. The belief that “I’m lucky” brings out a sense of self-efficacy and concentration.
And according to research by Khatun of Aligarh Muslim University, positive emotions can increase mental resilience and creativity, leading to better relationships and new opportunities.
So how can we cultivate the positive emotion of “I’m lucky”? The practice of doing so is “looking for the good.” In the Shinkiko retreat seminar, we spend a lot of time practicing “looking for the good,” but what I would like to focus on today is “looking for the good” from the perspective of “attracting good luck.” When something bad happens, instead of lamenting “why did this happen,” try to take it in a positive way and ask “what does this mean?” This change in attitude will greatly change the flow of Ki.
Negative energy is a dark energy that tries to make you interpret things negatively. When something bad happens, you immediately conclude, “I’m just unlucky after all,” which is the effect of negative energy. That’s why consciously finding the silver lining in misfortune is a way to challenge negative energy.
The important thing is that the “good things” you look for can be small. For example, you missed a traffic light today, or something you wanted happened to be on sale—even something as small as that can make you feel “lucky.” Repeating these experiences will make your brain more sensitive to positive information, creating a state in which you can notice even more “good things.” This will keep negative energy at bay, making it easier to receive the support of positive energy.
This will lead to attracting good fortune in a true sense. Furthermore, by receiving Shinkiko, negative energy will turn into light, making it easier to receive support from positive energy. By practicing “finding the good” together with Shinkiko, you will naturally develop a sense of “I am lucky.” First, try to start by finding small moments of “luck” in your day.