Have you ever scored an amazing deal at a sale, secured your dream job or found money on the street and thought, “Wow, this is my lucky day”? While it might feel like Lady Luck was on your side, the real credit could actually belong to you.
Scholars across various fields of research have been studying the relationship between luck and self-fulfilling prophecies, with findings suggesting that luck is not simply a random occurrence but often a result of our own actions and choices.
One of the most common pastimes associated to pure luck is online gambling – particularly when playing online slots since results are always so random. But, going in with the right mindset cannot hurt.
And, if you’re already familiar with how this activity works and feel like luck is on your side, you might be interested to know that many casinos are giving free spins on card registration. But, be aware you’d only be eligible for such offers if you sign up via FreeSpinsTracker, so be sure to keep that in mind.
Let’s take a look at how self-fulfilling prophecies and sheer luck intertwine, and how we can actively create our own moments of good fortune.
What is Luck?
Luck is usually seen as a force that brings good things by chance, rather than through effort or skill. However, Dr. Richard Wiseman, a professor at the University of Hertfordshire in the U.K., discovered through his research that “lucky” people actively create their own good fortune by following four key principles: they recognize and generate opportunities, trust their intuition to make the right decisions, use positive expectations to create self-fulfilling prophecies, and maintain a resilient mindset that helps them turn setbacks into opportunities.
“Unlucky” individuals, in contrast, often miss potential opportunities because they become too focused on specific goals. For example, someone attending a party with the sole aim of finding the perfect partner might overlook the chance to form meaningful friendships. Likewise, job seekers who concentrate only on specific job listings may fail to notice other valuable career opportunities.
Luck Vs. Serendipity
People often confuse luck with serendipity, which is defined as an occurrence of unexpected and fortunate events that appear to happen by chance. Like for example if you happen to discover something valuable that you weren’t actively searching for or running into an old friend that can lead to a business opportunity.
Stephann Makri, a lecturer in information interaction at City University London, has conducted several studies to explore the nature of serendipity from people’s perspectives. According to Makri, “Luck means different things to different people; some see it as synonymous with serendipity.”
However, he notes that many distinguish between the two, viewing luck as an uncontrollable phenomenon, while serendipity, although unpredictable, can be influenced.
In a recent study, Makri surveyed creative professionals to discover how they enhance their chances of experiencing serendipitous moments. The responses included diversifying their routines, working in various environments, collaborating with different people, and generally shaking things up to avoid monotony.
Reflecting on a fortunate event often reveals how it positively impacted our lives, which Makri refers to as an insight.
While these chance encounters are inherently unpredictable, individuals can take proactive steps to position themselves in situations where serendipity is more likely to occur. Maintaining an open, optimistic, and proactive mindset also increases the likelihood of recognizing and seizing opportunities as they arise.
Changing Your Luck
Is it possible to change your luck? The short answer is yes. Many studies suggest that luck is strongly influenced by psychological behaviour, meaning that simply shifting your mindset toward a more positive outlook can open up new opportunities.
Small changes, such as taking a different route to work, saying yes to things you might normally decline, and being open to adaptability can make it easier to recognize and seize unexpected opportunities. These subtle yet impactful adjustments can increase your chances of encountering good fortune.
While it’s undeniable that life brings hardships, many of which are beyond our control, how you frame these events can influence your luck. Research shows that when fortunate individuals face misfortune, their coping mechanisms differ significantly from those of unlucky individuals.
Instead of dwelling on a negative experience, they seek out something positive to focus on. In fact, lucky people tend to expect good things to happen. Dr. Richard Wiseman found that optimistic individuals often have higher expectations from life, which frequently leads to self-fulfilling prophecies.
Wiseman’s research revealed that athletes who win bronze medals are often happier than those who win silver. The reason? Silver medalists may focus on the fact that they didn’t win gold and what could have impacted their performance.
In contrast, bronze medalists feel grateful simply to have won a medal at all. Therefore, if luck is indeed a mindset, and you want it to come your way, it’s essential to adopt a more positive outlook on life.
