The negative outcomes of pessimistic people confirm that you get the results you choose.

The Bad Luck Mantra

“If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all.”

“With my luck...when my ship arrives, it will crash into the dock...[or other negative outcome]”

How often have you heard these expressions?

Driven by the negativity of those who frequently use them, they illustrate the reality of Murphy's Law.

Not so much a law as a misguided belief, it tells us:

"Anything that can go wrong, will"

"Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong"

"Whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time, in the worst possible way"

Individually and collectively, these expressions and Murphy's Law are part of the mantra of seriously committed pessimists—those people who in anticipating the worst, invariably have their expectations met...and often exceeded.

Today being Friday the 13th...the first of 3 such Fridays this year...is a good day to 'celebrate' bad luck.

No that's not a typo...I really did mean 'celebrate' bad luck.

There are 2 pieces of good news to celebrate about bad luck.

When pessimists actually experience the bad luck they were experiencing, the process by which this happens is commonly called a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In the briefest of terms this kind of prediction directly or indirectly causes itself to become true.

If the self-fulfilling prophecies of pessimists can come true...it seems only logical that optimists could benefit from the same effect.

Realistically there is a lot of good in our world...some of us believe that there is more good than bad.

So why should something as effective as self-fulfilling prophecies work only in a negative...or bad luck centered environment?

From another perspective, pessimists' self-fulfilling prophecies are a counter-example of the power of positive thinking.

The difference of course being that pessimists are guided by the power of negative thinking.

The Power of Commitment

It's not an easy life for committed pessimists...think of what they must give up in order to maintain their belief in bad luck.

I once had a pessimist tell me that I had no idea how difficult it was for people like her to be around positive people.

I suspect she was referring to me but was to polite to tell me that she did not appreciate my optimism.

But this strong commitment to bad luck pays off...pessimists usually do get the negative outcomes they prefer.

This commitment confirms the adage: be careful what you wish for...you might just get it.

Once again, if this idea works so well for pessimists, there is no reason that it will not be equally effective for optimists.

As a perpetual optimist, I cannot see why pessimists believe so strongly in bad luck.

Whether the result of self-fulfilling prophecies or committed pessimism, negative people help confirm that we get the results we choose...which after all is what planning is all about.

These people also confirm the importance of belief...in either positive actions or bad luck...as a critical factor in determining ultimate outcomes.

For these confirmations, I thank pessimists...and celebrate their belief in bad luck.

But only today, March 13 and November 13 of this year.