By The Princeton Review
I hear my older son (7) constantly tell my younger son (5) that he is so lucky. The younger one seems to find ways to get some gum from a friend, a free ring pop from the snack bar lady or just get an ice pop from our neighbor. Right place, right time? I don’t think so as I believe he makes his own luck.
I sure could use a little more luck in my life lately (house pipe leak, emergency room visit, new boss). I am sure most of us are probably feeling the same way whether at work, financially or just at home. The great news is that it turns out that you can create your own luck (as my 5 year old has this knack).
My friends at Collegewise, a college admissions advising company, recently brought to my attention the work of psychologist Richard Wiseman, author of The Luck Factor: Changing Your Luck, Changing Your Life: The Four Essential Principles. Wiseman studied how lucky people think and behave in ways that unlucky people don't and ultimately create good fortune in their lives.
Here are the excerpts from his interview in Fast Company magazine, along with suggestions of ways to apply this to your life.
1. Maximize chance opportunities.
"Lucky people are skilled at creating, noticing, and acting upon chance opportunities. They do this in various ways, which include building and maintaining a strong network, adopting a relaxed attitude to life, and being open to new experiences."
Do you have the initiative to take a class outside of your job just because it looks interesting, or to try karate just because it looks fun? Would you take the opportunity to start a car wash business with a friend or take a road trip to look at a city you've never heard of? Lucky people would do those things. Unlucky people wouldn't try anything unless they were guaranteed it could help them for a specific situation immediately.
2. Listen to your lucky hunches.
"Lucky people make effective decisions by listening to their intuition and gut feelings."
When was the last time you listened to your gut? Are you willing to listen to your gut instincts that you really believe are best for you, regardless of what your friends or family say? Would you try something new or make a career change or event go back to school? Lucky individuals would. Unlucky individuals would never take what feels like a risk. They always want to do what feels safe and guaranteed.
3. Expect good fortune.
"Lucky people are certain that the future will be bright. Over time, that expectation becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy because it helps lucky people persist in the face of failure and positively shapes their interactions with other people."
Are you excited about your future life? Do believe that you'll learn and have fun wherever you go or do? Do you have enough faith in yourself to know that your work ethic and personal characteristics are what will ultimately make you successful? Lucky people do. Unlucky people believe that everything hinges on whether or not someone else says "Yes." Also lucky people will put a positive spin on a negative incident.
4. Turn bad luck into good.
“Lucky people employ various psychological techniques to cope with, and even thrive upon, the ill fortune that comes their way. For example, they spontaneously imagine how things could have been worse, they don't dwell on the ill fortune, and they take control of the situation.”
Lucky people don't dwell on rejection, or the fact that they lost the game, or that their girlfriend broke up with them. They believe there's too much life to live to get bogged down by those events. They know there are other games, jobs and girls out there, and that they'll probably end up with a better one. Unlucky people just want to lament their fate.
Is it better to be lucky than smart? Try something new and be prepared to take risks. Then be relaxed enough to see the opportunities in the first place. No get out there and be a luck magnet!