There’s a girlfriend I haven’t stayed in touch with who used to believe that once she had the right man in her life, everything would be as it should. 

She believed once she had her right guy that her future would be secure, her children would behave better, her day job would become optional, someone else would mow the lawn, and her happiness level would go through the roof.

So she divorced her current husband to make room for a better one (certain that her current husband was her biggest problem in life), and eventually found a dream come true guy.

From what I can tell, this guy is fabulous: devoted, faithful, romantic, gorgeous, makes great money at a good job, treats her (and her family) like gold, was thrilled to marry her …

… and yet, this girlfriend is anything but the deliriously happy version of herself she imagined she’d be once Mr. Right showed up.

No surprise to us creators, right?

We know the fallacy of falling for the belief that something or someone will make us feel better. 

(At least – on our good days, we remember.)

We know that responsibility for how we feel is strictly ours. 

We’ve all seen what happens when someone hitches their wagon to the “circumstance” they think will bring them a “happily ever after” … either they spend their lives chasing the elusive dream that they never get lined up with – OR – they get it and are disappointed it’s not all it was supposed to be.

(Can you tell I’ve been there, done that?  I know whereof I speak.)

But we don’t have to have lived this already to understand it.  We know nothing happens that we’re not energetically lined up for, and that we are in charge of how we feel – it’s not dictated by our life circumstances.

Which is why I get a little irked every time I hear a deliberate creator talk about how excited they’ll be to win the lottery.

Before your feathers ruffle, let me clarify. 

I have nothing against money.  Especially big easy money. 

I am, in fact, a huge fan of big easy money.

But I am not a fan of seeing powerful creators attach themselves to an outcome that can’t possibly happen when they think a winning ticket will “save their day.”

If you think your day needs saving, and you think the lottery can do that for you, you are forgetting how this all works.

The same way my girlfriend was nuts to think a different guy could change her life happiness, we are insane to believe that a windfall of cash will make us feel better. 

It doesn’t.

It can’t.

Only YOU can make yourself feel better.

And when you feel better, guess what?  You don’t care about winning the lottery!

Now, I have lots of colleagues and friends (including my fabulous Dad – Happy Father’s Day, Dad!) who play the lottery for fun. 

I’m not talking about you guys. 

I’m talking about the folks who pin their hopes and dreams on using the law of attraction to win the lottery and change their life forever the better.

The Universe can’t deliver what you’re not lined up for.  So whatever you think a lotto win will do for you – you might want to bring that responsibility back home. 

Because the lottery can’t make you happy, secure, free, or even rich.  (And despite popular opinion, you don’t have to hear too many real life stories about lottery winners to know that.)

I’m also not saying winning the lotto is always an unhappy ending.  

I’m just saying lotto money will do for you whatever you’re already flowing.  (Which is why my girlfriend is her same old unhappy self with her fabulous new guy.) 

Like Alexander Green quotes in The Secret of Shelter Island, “Money doesn’t change who you are, it magnifies who you are.”

So instead of intending to win the lottery, how about instead we intend to be happy?  Since that’s all we want anyway!    

How about instead of dreaming up winning numbers, let’s take a few moments to count how we’ve already won the lottery?  (I got to be born here now!  On a planet where the skies are blue and there are over 300 brands of chocolate!  At a time where we have fabulously adventurous contrast to explore with the most amazing friends for the journey!  I could go on, but soapboxes probably aren’t the best vibe …)

My point being that if you think the lottery can change your life for the better, you are mistaken.  Only you can do that.  And when you do do that (change your life for the better), you won’t be so attached to lottery tickets.

Yes, Dad, I know – unless you’re buying them for fun.  I get it.

And the first person who posts here asking for tips on how to use law of attraction to win the lottery, I swear to God, I will make you read Money Mojo Magic or some other suitable reminder to get your money vibe straightened out once and for all.

(Although it is always fun to hear Abraham on this topic.)

While I am feeling feisty here, I am also totally open to seeing how I’ve got this wrong, if you care to share.  Or if you think I haven’t stated the point clearly or strongly enough.

Your thoughts?

Related posts:

1. Using Law of Attraction to Win the Lottery
2. No One Wants to Win the Lottery
3. Ted’s Hundred Grand