I was raised to not get too excited about things. Sort of a “hope for the best, plan for the worst” and “fingers crossed” or “well, we’ll see” approach to new possible opportunities. Maybe it’s the half Jew in me, but I’ve always carried a dram of doubt for every drop of hope.

I bought into the whole, “don’t say it’s true or you’ll jinx it” mentality when it came to everything from traffic to jobs to dating. Only recently did I notice what happens when I do that. You know there’s that “Yay!” moment that surges in your chest when you hear you might get what you want? I was instantly damming it up with “Well, maybe” as a hedge against disappointment. One night I could actually feel that in my body as a wall. I was stopping the flow of my joy. Preventing myself from enjoying that “yay” because it might not come to full fruition. And that felt really awful. And like that might actually be the source of the jinx itself, if there’s such a thing. Maybe NOT enjoying that tender, admittedly vulnerable to disappointment moment delays our wishes.

I have no idea how the universe actually works, but some of the Law of Attraction/”Secret” stuff makes a lot of sense to me. Our thoughts have power, our wishes are real things in many ways. And if negative thoughts impede the gratification of our yearnings, then perhaps planning for the worst means increasing the chances of getting the worst. Maybe.

So. The new plan: The anti-jinx, or as my special friend just named it, the positive jinx, or “pinx.” I just got news about something that might happen. Something I’ve wanted for ages. And you know what? I’m really excited. I have a really good feeling about it and I’m going with it! I’m saying it loud and proud. Go pinx power!

Because if I’m going to make up a story like “It won’t happen,” I might as well make it a happy story, “It will!” If there’s disappointment, I’ll deal. But it seems like a better bet to generate happy feelings while I’m waiting. You know?

Is there anything in your life you’d like to pinx? Do share your thoughts on this. And I’ll keep you posted.

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