Create Your Own Luck

“The winds of grace are blowing all the time, but it is you that must raise your sails." Rabindranath Tagore

LOVE AFTER LOVE by Derek Walcott

The time will come when,

with elation,

you will greet yourself arriving at your own door,

in your own mirror,

and each will smile at the other’s welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.

You will love again the stranger who was your self.

Give wine. Give bread.

Give back your heart to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored

for another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,

peel your own image from the mirror.

Sit. Feast on your life.

Introduction

Sundays are a great opportunity to spend a bit of time reflecting and pondering. It is early November. Many of us are hanging out for year end holidays to kick back and recharge our mental and physical energies.

Now is a great time to start pondering about your future and start putting the mental Lego pieces of planning into place for acting on a better future.

Luck is a concept that often brings to mind chance, serendipity, and forces beyond our control. It’s often seen as the winning lottery ticket, the unexpected promotion, winning the ideal job, or the serendipitous meeting of a soulmate.

However, beneath the veneer of chance lies a compelling argument for the self-made fortune. While we cannot control the random nature of life, we can certainly set the table of life to our advantage, crafting circumstances that predispose us to beneficial outcomes.

Instead of passively waiting for favourable winds, we can set our sails to catch the gusts of fortune which invariably come into our lives.

This article explores the proactive strategies that can help us engineer our own serendipity and turn the mythical wheel of fortune well and truly in our favour.

Understanding Luck

Before we can create our own luck, it’s important to understand what luck really is. Luck traditionally is viewed as random chance resulting in success or failure.

However, modern wisdom tells us that luck is not purely the random whim of the universe but rather the intersection where personal preparation meets opportunity.

This view of luck as a controllable factor shifts the power dynamic, giving us more agency in the outcome of our endeavours.

How to Create Your Own Luck

Creating your own luck is a multifaceted pursuit that intertwines mind, body, and environment. Here’s how you can set the stage.

Mind Clearing

Clarity of mind is foundational in recognising and seizing opportunities. Mind-clearing practices such as meditation, journaling, and spending time in nature can dissolve mental fog, allowing for sharper decision-making and increased awareness of serendipitous chances.

Exercise: Spend quiet time thinking about your life to date. What has worked and what hasn't. What barriers have you faced which stopped your dreams and ambitions? Do you need external advice to clear out any hurdles?

Life Decluttering

The state of your surroundings often reflects the state of your mind. Decluttering your physical space can have a profound effect on your mental space, reducing stress and leaving room for creativity and luck to flow into your life.

Exercise: Think about what belongings and spaces are truly important in your life. What are essential to be functional personally and at work and play?

Would it help to change jobs, or relocating to a new home, city or country? I once shifted countries to start a new life after a relationship breakdown. Much success followed along with a new sense of self.

Letting Go

Releasing past grievances and fears frees you from self-imposed shackles that hinder your ability to take risks. Letting go is essential to move forward and embrace new opportunities.

Exercise: Take time to think about your life generally. You've ticked off your mindset and physical surroundings. Is there anything else holding you back? Your job, your chosen work, or other life matters. Seek advice or help if you remain stuck.

The Right People Around You

Jim Rohn famously said, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." Surrounding yourself with motivated, positive, and supportive people can enhance your outlook and opportunities.

If you find yourself in the "black hole" company of negative friends, colleagues and workplaces, look for new surroundings. Life is for enjoyment and being fruitful. Good company is much more fun.

Improving Health: Diet, Exercise, Meditation, and Rest

A healthy body and mind are inextricably linked to one’s ability to capitalise on opportunities.

Nutritious food, regular exercise, mindful meditation, and adequate rest boost cognitive function and energy levels, essential components for making the most of the opportunities that come your way.

Feeling healthy and more energetic increases your drive, life enjoyment and generally attracts positive energy people around you.

Education and Learning

Lifelong learning equips you with the knowledge to recognise opportunities that others might miss.

Education, whether formal or self-directed, broadens your horizon and increases your luck surface area. Hone your skills continuously so that you are a master.

Be curious about things outside your normal areas of interest. Having greater general knowledge increases serendipity.

Learn from trial and error.

Adapting & Pivoting

The ability to be flexible and adaptable is crucial in creating luck. Being flexible and pivoting to changing circumstances can turn potential setbacks into opportunities.

When opportunities outside your comfort zone present, are you able to take them on and harvest the fruits?

Setting Luck-Worthy Goals

Goals aligned with your passions and strengths are more likely to catch the currents of chance. Luck finds its way more easily to those who are clear on what they are striving for and why.

Goal setting is a dynamic process requiring resetting goals as your circumstances change. Remember that life has many variables. so, goals may become unrealistic or obsolete as time goes by.

Networking

Continually building a diverse network is like casting a wide net into the sea of chance. The more connections you have, the more likely you are to catch the wave of a lucky break.

The essence of networking is about hanging out with good people who align with your values and goals. Networking is a great opportunity to learn from others. Be open to new ideas and truly understand others and appreciate how they think and act.

Gratitude for What You Have

A grateful mindset can attract more positivity into your life. Recognising and appreciating the good that you already have sets a tone of abundance and opens the door to more.

Positive Mindset

Expecting good things to happen primes you to spot and pursue opportunities. A positive mindset is a fertile ground for the seeds of luck to sprout. It is magnetic in attracting the right people around you.

Listening to Your Inner Voice

Within the cacophony of opinions, fears, and expectations, lies a quiet but powerful guide – your intuition.

Often referred to as a gut feeling, this internal compass can steer you towards decisions that align closely with your personal values and your unique path, which is crucial in creating your own luck.

But with the noise of over analysis and groupthink, how do you listen to it?

First, recognise that your intuition is a muscle that can be strengthened. Start by reflecting on past situations where you had a hunch that turned out to be correct.

Acknowledging these instances builds trust in your inner voice. Then, create space for your intuition to speak. This can be through meditation, solitary walks, or simply moments of silence throughout a busy day. The key is to clear the mental clutter to hear the whispers of your intuition.

Moreover, intuition often speaks to us through our body. A sense of unease, or conversely, a feeling of excitement and alignment, can be indicators of what choices might be right for us.

Paying attention to these physical cues can provide clarity when your mind is mired in analysis.

However, it's important to distinguish between intuitive signals and irrational fears or biases. Intuition is often a quick, initial feeling about a situation, not a reactive emotion based on past trauma or prejudice.

Developing mindfulness can help differentiate between the two, allowing you to respond from a place of inner wisdom rather than unexamined fears.

Balancing Intuition with Rational Thought

While intuition is a powerful tool, it's most effective when used in concert with rational thought.

After acknowledging your gut feeling, it's beneficial to assess it alongside factual information and logical assessment. This creates a balanced approach where neither fear nor blind optimism dominates, giving you the best chance to forge your own luck.

Persist

Luck is, in many ways, a numbers game. The more you try, the better your chances of getting lucky. Persistence means keeping at it, even when the odds seem stacked against you. Sometimes, the mere act of not giving up is enough to tip the scales in your favour.

Givers Gain

The concept of giving as a way to attract more luck is steeped in both ancient wisdom traditions and modern psychological theory.

"What goes around comes around" encapsulates the idea that the energy, intentions, and actions we put out into the world tend to circle back to us.

Psychological and Social Benefits

From a psychological standpoint, giving can enhance our mood and increase our sense of social connection.

When we give to others, we stimulate the release of neurotransmitters such as endorphins and oxytocin, which create a feeling of happiness known as the "helper's high."

This positive emotional state can make us more open and receptive to new opportunities, allowing us to perceive and act upon situations that we might otherwise overlook.

Furthermore, altruistic behaviour often strengthens our social networks. It fosters trust and cooperation among peers, which can lead to a robust support system that may provide us with opportunities and assistance that we would not have encountered otherwise.

In other words, when we give, we're not just enhancing someone else's life; we're nurturing a community that can reciprocate when we are in need.

Reciprocity and Reputation

The principle of reciprocity suggests that acts of generosity and kindness are often repaid in kind.

This isn't about giving with the expectation of receiving; rather, it's an understanding that the act of giving itself sows the seeds for future positive outcomes.

Your reputation as a giver can precede you, opening doors that may have been closed otherwise.

Attracting Luck through Generosity

When we talk about luck, we're often referring to fortuitous events that seem to happen by chance. However, when we give generously - be it time, resources, or kindness, we increase the probability of chance encounters and opportunities.

By establishing a pattern of positive energy and goodwill, we invite similar energies into our lives. The world tends to look more favourably upon those who contribute positively to the lives of others.

Mindset Shift

Incorporating the act of giving into your life can also induce a shift in your mindset.

It moves you from a scarcity mindset, where you might hold back for fear of not having enough, to an abundance mindset, where you give freely, confident that you will receive in turn.

This shift not only improves your own outlook on life but also can change how others perceive and interact with you.

In essence, the power of giving in attracting more luck is a multifaceted phenomenon. It harnesses the psychological benefits of altruism, reinforces the social principle of reciprocity, enhances reputation, and fosters an abundance mindset.

By giving, we do not deplete our own resources; instead, we enrich our lives and increase the chances of luck smiling back at us. As counterintuitive as it may seem, it is through giving that we open ourselves up to receiving the very things we desire.

Overcoming Hurdles and Fear

In the quest to create your own luck, you will inevitably encounter obstacles that test your resolve.

Hurdles and fears can stem from internal doubts or external pressures, and they serve as critical checkpoints on your journey.

Overcoming these barriers is not just about persistence; it's about understanding and strategy.

Over-Analysing

One of the most insidious hurdles is the tendency to over-analyse. While careful consideration is wise, over-analysis leads to paralysis. This paralysis, often born from a fear of making the wrong choice, keeps you stagnant, preventing you from taking the very actions that could lead to serendipitous opportunities.

The truth is, there's no perfect decision. Every choice carries potential risks and rewards, and part of creating your own luck is recognising that taking calculated risks is necessary.

To combat over-analysis, set limits on your decision-making time, and commit to taking action once that time is up. Embrace the mantra that done is often better than perfect.

Groupthink

Another external hurdle is groupthink. It's the psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people when the desire for harmony or conformity results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

In the context of luck, groupthink can divert you from your path by diluting your unique perspective and ideas in favour of the collective.

When you forsake your intuition to follow the crowd, you may miss out on the unique opportunities that could lead to personal breakthroughs.

To avoid groupthink, actively seek diverse opinions and cultivate an environment where dissent is not just accepted but valued.

Fear of Failure and Rejection

Fear is perhaps the most formidable foe in the arena of luck. The fear of failure, rejection, or even success can anchor you in a safe harbour of inaction.

However, every successful person knows that failure is often a stepping stone to success. The fear of failure must be reframed as a learning opportunity, a necessary experience that brings you closer to your lucky break.

The same goes for the fear of rejection. Each rejection brings you closer to acceptance. Therefore, seek out small ways to face rejection regularly, so it loses its sting and you become more resilient in the face of it.

This could mean pitching an idea, asking for a sale, or applying for opportunities where the odds are not in your favour. Over time, this practice diminishes the power of fear, turning it into a catalyst for growth. Take small risks to get used to knockbacks.

The Comfort Zone Conundrum

Your comfort zone is the silent siren that sings the lullaby of complacency. It's comfortable because it's familiar, not because it's where you grow.

To create your own luck, you must venture beyond the familiar into the realms of the unknown. This is where opportunity lies. Recognise that discomfort is a sign of progress, and when you feel it, you're likely on the right track.

Conquering Procrastination

Procrastination is the thief of opportunity. The common refrain "I will take action when..." is usually a stalling tactic, not a strategy for success.

It's crucial to recognise that perfect conditions are a myth—there will always be a reason to wait, and while you wait, chances pass you by.

The antidote to procrastination is immediate action, however small. Start with manageable steps that are within your reach right now, rather than waiting for a more favourable moment that may never come.

Embrace the notion that action is the precursor to opportunity, and that luck, more often than not, is a result of having taken the plunge, not having waited on the shore.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome - the internal belief that you're not as competent as others perceive you to be, can be a significant barrier to creating your own luck. It breeds self-doubt and discourages risk-taking, which are vital in seizing opportunities.

To conquer it, first acknowledge its presence. Understand that imposter syndrome is a common phenomenon, even among the highly successful. Next, reframe your thoughts: instead of seeing success as luck or timing, recognise the hard work and skill that got you there.

Never compare yourself with others. Everyone is uniquely talented in their own right.

Celebrate your victories, learn from feedback, and remember that expertise is a journey, not a destination.

Creating your own luck is not a passive endeavour. It requires you to navigate through a maze of mental and emotional challenges. By understanding the pitfalls and stepping outside your comfort zone, you prime yourself for growth and increase your chances of serendipity.

Luck, then, is not a mere accident of fate but a by-product of courage, action, and the will to confront the very things that seem to stand in its way.

Summary

Luck is not just a game of chance; it’s a deliberate creation that stems from a combination of mindset, preparedness, and action.

By cultivating a clear mind, decluttering life, nurturing health and relationships, continuous learning, and maintaining a positive, grateful attitude, you set the stage for luck to find you.

Remember, luck is where opportunity meets the prepared mind and creating your own luck is about taking action to tip the scales of probability in your favour.

In the end, it’s not about waiting for the storm to pass but about learning to dance in the rain, and sometimes, the dance itself is what summons the rainbow.

All the best in your endeavours!

Frank Choy

5 November 2023

Reading List

"The Serendipity Mindset" Dr Christian Busch, Penguin, 2020

"Conscious Luck", Gay Hendricks & Carol Kline, St Martin's Essentials, 2020