Do you know people who believe the whole world is conspiring against them? Everything is negative, nothing goes their way, and it’s as if a dark cloud follows them everywhere. Most of us know at least one person like that. But what if we flipped that thinking completely? What if we believed the world is actually working for us—that opportunities show up, things fall into place, and sunlight follows us? Either mindset is possible. The difference is how we choose to see the world and how we show up in it.
The other day, a friend was getting her car inspected because her lease was ending. I was walking past the inspector and was about to get in my own car when I decided to look up, smile, and say hello. He seemed friendly, so I asked how the inspection was going. He gave a short, standard answer. I could have left, but I try to make people feel valued. Everyone likes to feel important, don’t they? So I mentioned that his job seemed interesting—driving around, meeting new people all day. That small comment opened him up. He started telling me about his work and what he sees on the job.
Then he asked, “Why are you returning this car?” I explained that the lease was ending. He said, “Did you know you have the right to buy this car for the original lease value—locked in before the car shortage—and you could resell it for more since used cars are in high demand?” Neither of us knew that. That single conversation was worth thousands of dollars.
We can wait for opportunities to fall into our lap, or we can choose to create opportunities simply by being open—open to people, to connection, to conversation. Not because we are trying to get something, but because treating people well changes the world we experience. Some will call it luck, but luck usually happens to the people who create the conditions for it.
The world is full of opportunities. When you look outward instead of inward—when you look for connection rather than protection—the world begins to work for you.