Learn to be lucky

It disturbs me that some people seem to lead charmed lives while others’ seem blighted. Thomas Hardy’s novels often feature characters who make one bad decision that has knock-on effects all the way through their lives. As I read Tess of the d’Urbervilles and the Mayor of Casterbridge, I willed the main characters to break the cycle of catastrophe that they seemed stuck in. Alas neither Tess nor Michael Henchard managed to do this and both came to a sad end.

Just before Christmas, I heard a radio programme about luck. It featured Professor Richard Wiseman of the Psychology Department at the University of Hertfordshire. He has spent many years studying the difference between lucky and unlucky people. His research shows that those who consider themselves to be lucky really continue to have more luck than those who think they are unlucky. And it’s not only about positive thinking. Lucky people notice and react positively to chance opportunities. They are more intuitive in their decision making. They are optimistic and resilient.

But what interested me most was Professor Wiseman’s evidence that unlucky people can learn to be luckier. This offers hope to all of us, whether our lives seem charmed or not.

Much of what he says is just common sense. People who win competitions tend to enter a lot of competitions; it’s obvious that the more entries you make, the more likely you are to win something. The same is true of relationships. The more people you meet, the more likely you are to find someone who will be able to help you with your career, or will become a trusted friend, or even a lover.

However, he has shown that lucky people don’t go into social situations with a fixed agenda. They go in with open minds. They notice and engage with people. Others are drawn to them.
I know from my own experience that when I go to a social gathering determined to make a new business contact, for example, it’s unnatural and rarely works. If, however, I relax, am myself and go with the flow, extraordinary things sometimes happen. I met some of my best friends in the most unexpected places.

So whatever else you do this year, why not make 2007 the year when you take steps to be luckier? If you see yourself as someone like Tess who is doomed to go through life making the wrong decisions, now is the time to stop and think about what you can do to change the way your life is going. If you are basically happy, what can you do to develop how you make the most of all that comes your way?

I summarise the main points of Professor Wiseman’s book below. I also offer coaching to help you to be happier and more confident.

Be lucky in 2007!


Dr Wiseman’s Four Principals of Luck

1. Maximise your chance opportunities

Lucky people notice and react positively to chance opportunities in their life. They build and maintain strong networks. They have a relaxed attitude towards life. They are open to new experiences in their lives.

2. Listen to your lucky hunches

Lucky people listen to their gut feelings and hunches. They take steps to boost their intuition. I’ll say more about how to do this in next month’s article.

3. Expect good fortune

Lucky people expect their good luck to continue in the future. They strive for goals even if their chances of success seem slim. They persevere in the face of failure. They expect their interactions with others to be lucky and successful.

4. Turn your bad luck into good

Lucky people see the positive side of their bad luck. They are convinced that an ill fortune in their life will, in the long run, work out for the best. They do not dwell on their ill fortune. They take constructive steps to prevent more bad luck in the future.

Most important of all: you can learn skills to help you to become luckier. You can take control of much of how your life turns out for you. To find out more, contact me.