How to Create Luck

Is luck simply a matter of chance? Is it something entirely outside our control? Social scientists don’t think so. They view luck as the outcome of personal actions—an alchemy of openness to new experiences combined with a penchant for taking chances.

“Luck is believing you’re lucky.” – Tennessee Williams

Research shows that people who consider themselves lucky behave in ways that seem to multiply their chances of good outcomes. They throw themselves into a variety of pursuits, creating opportunities through sheer engagement. The more diverse your routines, the more unexpected encounters you experience. And the more you shake up your life, the more new experiences you have—and with that comes the enthusiasm to seize them. Sound familiar? It’s resilience. And that’s no coincidence.

Be resilient

Resilient and lucky people share a crucial trait: they accept adversity. When faced with setbacks, they learn, adapt, and chart new hopeful paths. They turn misfortune into insight.

Adopting this constructive attitude means you can often counteract bad luck by reframing challenges as opportunities. Everything that happens can serve a purpose—it’s up to you to decide what that purpose is.

“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.” – Dalai Lama XIV

A 10-year study involving 400 participants found that ‘lucky’ people actively influence their own outcomes. Key habits of lucky people include:

• They stay alert to possibilities, recognizing and creating opportunities wherever they appear.

• They trust their intuition, acting on gut feelings.

• They set clear intentions, using positive expectations to manifest desired outcomes.

• They turn setbacks into advantages, transforming bad luck into good through resilience.

Take action

• See failure as a learning opportunity.

• Practice counterfactual thinking to ease the sting of setbacks (e.g., “it could be worse”).

• Expand your social circle by connecting with people you don’t know.

• Introduce novelty regularly, exposing yourself to new experiences and perspectives.

• Break free from routine and avoid echo chambers.

• Say yes more often—accept invitations, try new things, be a beginner, explore new places.

• Smile.

Some inspiring thoughts to keep in mind:

“Whether you think the world conspires with you or against you, you’re right.” – A riff on Henry Ford

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” – Seneca

“If you view all the things that happen to you, good or bad, as opportunities, you operate from a higher level of consciousness.” – Les Brown

There are many sources on “increasing your luck surface area.” Here are four ways to get lucky:

1. Hope luck finds you.

2. Work hard until luck finds you.

3. Train your mind to notice opportunities others miss.

4. Master your craft. When you become exceptional, opportunities naturally come your way - luck becomes your destiny.