My mom has always told me that the universe can hear us.
If you say or think something, it will materialize in one form or another. Thoughts materialize. All thoughts. She always says that the universe can't hear negative particles. You can't say "not" to the universe.

"I don't want to fail" will become "I want to fail" and "I don't want to die" will disappear into "I want to die." And what keeps you up at night?