By Monica Zollinger

Is there really such a thing as chance or luck?

According to Dictionary.com, chance is “the absence of any cause of events that can be predicted, understood, or controlled,” or simply “a possibility or probability of anything happening.” Luck is defined as “good fortune; advantage or success, considered as the result of chance.”

But “the absence of any cause”? I don’t think Sir Isaac Newton would agree.

Newton’s laws of motion teach us that everything—every action, every reaction—has a cause. There’s a direct relationship between force and motion. I like to think of it in terms of energy: what I do with mine, where I focus it, how I direct it. Newton’s third law says, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” In other words, nothing happens randomly. There’s no such thing as luck.

That’s why I love Leslie’s acronym for L.U.C.K.—Living Under Correct Knowledge. When we understand how universal laws work, we begin to see just how much influence we have over our circumstances through our choices, thoughts, and actions.

The Law of Cause and Effect can guide us to make wiser decisions. My dad didn’t have a lot of formal education, but he understood this law deeply. He often called it the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Or, as the scriptures put it, “That which ye sow, ye shall also reap.”

He didn’t have a lot of money, but he considered himself rich. He believed that what you put out into the world would always come back to you.

Let me give you an example: he used to take groups on jeep excursions to Hole-in-the-Rock and provided food for the entire trip. He told people that $20 per person would cover the cost of food for three days.

One day, I told him he was losing money—some people weren’t paying. I’ll never forget his response:
“I don’t care. I’m not going to get upset about it. If it doesn’t come from them, it will come from somewhere else. Worrying about money from someone who doesn’t pay just makes me feel bad. If they don’t pay, that’s their problem. It always works out.”

He chose gratitude over worry. He gave kindness, trust, and happiness freely—and that’s exactly what came back to him. His wealth was in his relationships, and those relationships were everything to him.

When we realize our future is shaped by our choices, it changes how we make them. We begin to live more intentionally, in alignment with our life’s purpose.

There’s a quote I love that goes:

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words;
watch your words, they become your actions;
watch your actions, they become your habits;
watch your habits, they become your character;
watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

When making choices, ask: What are the consequences? Will this bring happiness? Is this helping me fulfill my purpose?

Another powerful way to know if a decision is right is to ask your heart. Our heart often knows more than our rational mind. If you feel peace, it’s likely the right direction. If you feel tension or unease, it might not be.

The universe doesn’t get it “wrong”—it simply mirrors back what we send out. Like a boomerang, our energy, thoughts, and choices return to us. Whether we choose consciously or unconsciously, we are shaping our reality. There is no such thing as chance. Only L.U.C.K.—Living Under Correct Knowledge.

When we live with awareness of these principles, we can shape our circumstances into exactly what we want them to be.

Decisions determine destiny.

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