The Nature of Luck and How to Think Yourself Lucky

“Some guys have all the luck”, sang Rod Stewart way back in 1984, but what is the true nature of luck? Can you influence luck or are our destinies already planned for us? Do you even believe in luck? In this article, we explore what luck is and share tips on how you can think yourself lucky and open the door to good fortune.

What is Luck?

The Nature of LuckCatching an all-important phone call, a winning streak when gambling, getting the last seat on the train, all of these can be attributed to good luck. The universe working in your favour, putting you in the right place at the right time. How about lucky charms? A rabbit’s foot, a four-leaf clover, a horseshoe, is it possible that such items can influence your fortune? How about bad luck? With the many superstitions that can apparently affect our fate; walking under a ladder, a black cat crossing your path, breaking a mirror, it’s a wonder any of us even get out of bed in the morning!

Yet the concept of luck has different meanings to different people. It varies according to philosophical, emotional, mystical and religious interpretations. Many people doubt whether luck really exists. Coincidences are mere coincidences and it is people that make their own luck rather than greater forces being at work.

Are Some People Luckier than Others?

We all know someone in life who seems to be exceptionally lucky. You know the guy, the one with the perfect family, the dream house, successful career and life in general. Things just seem to fall into that guy’s lap. On the other hand, we all know unlucky people. The ones who always seem to get a raw deal. Unsuccessful in love and life; despite their efforts, a grey cloud seems to hang over them.

We put this down to luck as there is no other logical explanation for it. Yet there have been numerous scientific and sociological studies that have investigated what makes some people luckier than others. A 10 year study into the nature of luck by the British psychologist Richard Wiseman concluded that luck is not simply random chance. People are not born either lucky or unlucky, they make their own luck, to a large extent. It is our actions, thoughts and behaviour that affect how lucky we are. As such, it is possible to enhance how lucky people are in life.

What Makes a Person Lucky?

Professor Wiseman advertised for people who considered themselves to be exceptionally lucky or unlucky to take part in his research. Over the years, Wiseman performed numerous experiments, personality questionnaires and intelligence tests on these candidates. His conclusion was that lucky people create their own good fortune through 4 basic principles:

  1. Maximising Chance Opportunities: Lucky people are better at noticing, creating and acting upon chance opportunities. They tend to have a relaxed attitude and an open outlook on life, as well as being outgoing, adventurous and creative.
  2. Listening to Their Intuition: Lucky people listen to their intuition and act on their hunches, enabling them to make effective decisions. They also take pro-active steps to boost these skills, through meditation or yogi for example.
  3. Having Positive Expectations: By maintaining a positive frame of mind, lucky people create self-fulfilling prophesies. Their belief in a future full of good fortune enables them to deal effectively with adversity.
  4. Resilience in the Face of Bad Luck: Lucky people do not dwell on ill fortune and often look on the bright side of life. Their optimistic reactions to negative situations makes them feel better in themselves and creates a positive outcome.

How to Improve Your Fortune

Having identified these basic principles which make people lucky, Professor Wiseman created a “luck school”. He taught these behavioural principles to a group of unlucky people to see if they could increase the amount of luck they have by thinking and acting like lucky people. They were encouraged to break from their usual routines, creating more chance opportunities by being open to new situations.

Professor Wiseman described the results as “dramatic”. Having followed the principles for a month, 80% of the people were considered to be happier, more satisfied with life and even luckier. The resounding conclusion from the study was a new way of thinking about luck and how it impacts our lives. It indicated that the way we think and behave drives much of the good luck we experience in everyday life.

The Role of Luck in Gambling Through the Ages

Luck and the History of GamblingWhilst Richard Wiseman’s study makes a convincing case for becoming luckier, does it apply to all situations? One area in which people often rely on sheer luck is gambling. Gambling is a hugely popular activity that people throughout the world have taken part in for thousands of years.

The origins of gambling can be traced as far back as Ancient China 2300bc, where tiles were unearthed which were used in a game of chance. Some of the most popular games we play in casinos today have rich histories. Blackjack is thought to have originated in the 18th century and was a favourite in the courts of Louis XV. Roulette became famous in French casinos in the late 1700’s. The roots of baccarat can be traced even further back, and it is widely held to have been in invented in the 1500’s.

Gambling has evolved throughout the ages and the most significant development came with the boom of the internet in the 90’s. Since the launch of the first online casino in 1994, the industry has become ever more popular, with millions of players worldwide enjoying gambling online. Nowadays players can try their luck at casino games, sports betting, poker and more anytime, anywhere.

Some people have been remarkably lucky when gambling online. Take Jon Heywood for example. In October 2015, the British soldier won a whopping £13.2 million playing the progressive jackpot slot Mega Moolah. From just a 25p bet, he became an instant millionaire, and world record breaker. Did Jon Heywood live his life according to Wiseman’s principles for being lucky? Or did lady luck simply take a shining to him that day?