The Power of Luck

GET LUCKIER NOW

If you’ve ever wondered why some people are luckier than others, you’re already off on the wrong track. The consensus among sociologists, behav­ioral psychologists, and other experts who have studied the phenomenon of luck is that lucky people aren’t born—they’re made. Creating your own luck really is possible, and it all comes down to five essential rules.

BE OPEN TO EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE

Although your parents warned you not to, you should talk to strangers. And you should talk to them as much as possible, wherever you can. Studies have shown that the most successful people are the ones who take the trouble to form friendly contacts at any opportunity. So the next time you’re in the supermarket checkout line, talk to the person next to you. Really. It’s got to be more edifying than reading about that boy who got trapped in a freezer and ate his own foot.

BELIEVE YOU ARE LUCKY

If you expect good things to hap­pen to you, they will. And if you believe you are a lucky person, you will be. Psychologists say that people who don’t feel lucky tend to stick with the program and do the same things over and over, even if they’re unhappy. On the other hand, people who do feel lucky are more likely to take risks and try something new. They are more like­ly to enter into a new business venture, a new relationship, or even a contest. And as they say, you can’t win if you don’t play. So start thinking of yourself as the lucky person you already are.

TRUST YOUR HUNCHES

As sentient beings, we’re not able to process all of the sensory data we are bombarded with each second on a conscious level. But we are on a subconscious level. And hunches are actually based on the information that we absorb and process while we’re doing other things. That’s why hunches feel the way they do—you don’t quite know why you feel a certain way about some­thing, but you just do. So pay attention to and trust your gut when making decisions. Chances are, it’s right.

SHAKE THINGS UP

If you’re stuck in a routine, doing the same things every single day, you’re likely missing out on lucky experiences that can only come from exposure. So go to more parties, or try out that new restaurant. Try sitting with people you don’t know at lunch or reconnecting with old friends. Take a class, a different route to work, or a break, even if you don’t need one. Take a shower at a ran­dom time, since that’s when the best ideas often occur. If you are open to exploring new places and experiences, sooner or later you’re bound to find yourself at the right place at the right time.

BE PREPARED FOR LUCK

OK, the Boy Scouts were right about this. It’s one thing to be in the right place at the right time; it’s an­other altogether to know what to do when your lucky number gets called. Lucky opportunities always present themselves at the most unexpected times (that’s why they’re lucky), and you’ve got to be pre­pared to notice when one is happening and take advantage of it. So pay attention to your surroundings at all times—that way when your big lucky break comes along, you’ll be ready.