Why is luck sometimes good and sometimes bad? How did the ancients view the fluctuations of fortune?
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Many years ago, a frequent visitor to the temple asked me a question.
He said:
"Brother, I find my luck to be very strange."
Sometimes,
Work goes smoothly.
Income increases.
Good health.
Friendships are also good.
But after a while,
Things start to go wrong again.
Problems arise at work.
Mood worsens.
Opportunities decrease.
He asked:
"Why is my luck always fluctuating?"
In fact, this problem is more common than simply bad luck.
Because the lives of most people are neither always smooth nor always unlucky.
But are constantly changing.
Why did the ancients believe that fortune changes?
Taoism states:
"Heaven and Earth have Yin and Yang, and the four seasons alternate."
Day will not last forever.
Nor will night exist forever.
Spring, summer, autumn, and winter constantly rotate.
Tides rise and fall, constantly changing.
The ancients believed that human fortune is also like this.
Fortune is not static.
It changes with:
- Changes in state.
- Changes in environment.
- Changes in relationships.
- Changes in behavior.
Constantly fluctuating.
Therefore, Taoism does not believe that good luck lasts forever.
Nor does it believe that bad luck lasts forever.
Why do problems always arise when things are going smoothly?
Many people, when their luck is good, develop a certain mentality.
They feel they have complete control over their lives.
So they start to:
- Take excessive risks.
- Ignore details.
- Lower their guard.
- Overwork themselves.
The ancients said:
"When things reach their peak, they decline."
This is not pessimism.
But a reminder to people:
Any state, after reaching its extreme, may change.
Therefore, during prosperous times, it is even more important to remain clear-headed.
Why does a turning point appear after a low point?
During a low point, people often begin to reflect.
Re-examine themselves.
Adjust their environment.
Change direction.
Many new choices often happen during this period.
The ancients said:
"After extreme misfortune comes good fortune."
This does not mean good luck suddenly arrives.
But that when problems accumulate to a certain extent, people begin to actively change.
And change brings new opportunities.
Therefore, many low points are actually the beginning of a turning point.
Why do some people experience particularly large fluctuations in their fortune?
After observing for these years, I have found several reasons.
First: excessive emotional fluctuations
Overly excited about good things.
Overly despairing about bad things.
This state causes one's judgment to constantly fluctuate.
Second: frequent changes in direction
Doing this today.
Doing that tomorrow.
Changing goals the day after.
Over the long term, it is difficult to accumulate real results.
Third: long-term unstable environment
Frequent job changes.
Frequent changes in social circles.
Long-term stress environment.
All increase fortune fluctuations.
How does Taoism view "luck"?
Many people believe:
Luck is an invisible force.
But the ancients emphasized:
"Qi."
Taoism believes:
When the spirit is at peace, Qi flows smoothly.
When Qi flows smoothly, fortune is stable.
Here, "Qi" is not a mysterious force.
It can be understood as:
- Mental state.
- Action power.
- Concentration.
- Interpersonal relationships.
- Environmental energy.
When these parts are in harmony, fortune is usually relatively stable.
When these parts lose balance, fluctuations increase.
Why are some people able to remain stable for a long time?
They may not have the best luck.
But they often have:
- Stable routines.
- Clear goals.
- Good emotional management.
- Consistent action.
The ancients said:
"Maintain the center."
"Maintaining the center" means not being overly ecstatic, nor overly despairing.
Such people, even if they experience a low point, recover more easily.
Why is sustaining luck more important than changing it?
Many people focus on:
How to change luck.
But the ancients paid more attention to:
How to maintain luck.
Because if good luck appears but cannot be maintained, fortune will still decline again.
Therefore, traditional Taoist talismans for sustaining luck emphasize more:
- Stabilizing Qi.
- Reducing fluctuations.
- Maintaining focus.
- Prolonging good states.
While talismans for changing luck are more used during low points.
The two are not entirely the same.
If you find your luck fluctuating, you can observe these issues:
- Are your emotions fluctuating too much?
- Are you frequently changing goals?
- Are you in a long-term stressful state?
- Are you neglecting your body and rest?
- Are you overly reliant on short-term results?
Often, fluctuations in fortune are not a matter of fate.
But a reflection of the overall state of life.
Conclusion
Fluctuating luck is actually the most normal state of life.
No one can always be smooth-sailing.
Nor will anyone remain in a low point forever.
The ancients observed the changes in heaven and earth, and thus understood:
Prosperous times need to be cherished.
Low points require patience.
What truly determines the direction of life is not the height or depth of fortune at any given moment.
But whether, amidst the ups and downs, one can still maintain their direction.
Related Reading
"Why Does Good Luck Suddenly Disappear?"
"What Are the Signs Before Good Luck Arrives?"
"Why Do Some People Always Fail at Critical Moments?"