The Science of Luck – Can You Actually Make Yourself Luckier?

Some people just seem lucky. They land dream jobs, stumble into perfect opportunities, or always seem to be in the right place at the right time. Meanwhile, others struggle to catch a break, no matter how hard they work.

But is luck really just chance, or is there something more to it? Can you actually make yourself luckier? Science suggests you can.

While luck is often seen as random, research shows that certain habits, mindsets, and behaviours can increase the likelihood of “lucky” things happening. In other words, luck isn’t just about chance—it’s about creating the conditions for good fortune to find you.

Here’s how luck actually works and what you can do to invite more of it into your life.

What Is Luck, Really?

Luck is often defined as a fortunate event happening by chance. But psychologists and researchers argue that luck is partly a mindset and partly a series of behaviours that make it easier for good things to happen.

Professor Richard Wiseman, a psychologist and author of The Luck Factor, spent years studying why some people seem naturally lucky while others don’t. He found that lucky people tend to share specific attitudes and behaviours that increase their chances of good fortune.

According to Wiseman, luck is shaped by four key factors:

1. Maximising chance opportunities – Being open to new experiences and meeting new people.

2. Listening to intuition – Trusting gut feelings and acting on them.

3. Having a positive expectation of the future – Believing good things will happen.

4. Turning bad luck into good luck – Seeing setbacks as opportunities for growth.

In short, lucky people create their own luck by being open, optimistic, and adaptable.

How to Become Luckier (According to Science)

If luck isn’t just chance, that means you can increase your own by shifting your mindset and actions. Here are science-backed ways to bring more luck into your life.

1. Say Yes to More Opportunities

One of the biggest differences between lucky and unlucky people is how they approach new experiences. Lucky people are more likely to try new things, meet new people, and take small risks—giving them more chances for good things to happen.

Example: Many successful people credit their biggest opportunities to seemingly random encounters. Take Oprah Winfrey—her first big break in television came when she was offered a role as a news anchor. She wasn’t looking for it, but she said yes, and it changed her life.

How to Do It:

• Accept invitations, even if they push you out of your comfort zone.

• Talk to strangers—you never know who might introduce you to your next opportunity.

• Try new activities or hobbies to expand your network and experiences.

2. Train Your Brain to Spot Opportunities

Lucky people notice opportunities that others overlook. They have what researchers call an opportunity mindset, meaning they’re more aware of possibilities around them.

Example: A classic study by Wiseman asked people to count the number of photos in a newspaper. Unlucky people focused so hard on counting that they missed a message on page two that said, “Stop counting—there are 43 photos.”Lucky people noticed it instantly because they were more open to unexpected information.

How to Do It:

• Instead of being hyper-focused on one goal, stay open to surprises.

• Train yourself to look for patterns and unexpected opportunities.

• Regularly ask yourself, “What opportunities am I not seeing?”

3. Trust Your Gut Instincts

Research suggests that lucky people often make better split-second decisions because they trust their intuition. They’re not reckless—they simply recognise when something feels right and act on it.

Example: Steve Jobs once said, “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.” His gut feeling led him to make bold choices that shaped Apple’s success.

How to Do It:

• Pay attention to subtle gut feelings about people or situations.

• Spend time in silence (meditation, journaling) to strengthen your intuition.

• If something excites you but scares you at the same time, it’s often worth exploring.

4. Expect Good Things to Happen

Optimism plays a huge role in luck. Studies show that people who believe good things will happen to them are more likely to take action, recognise opportunities, and persist through challenges—all of which increase their actual luck.

Example: Research on Olympic athletes found that those who visualised success performed better. They expected to win, which influenced their preparation, confidence, and results.

How to Do It:

• Visualise good outcomes instead of worrying about worst-case scenarios.

• Replace negative self-talk with “What if things go right?”

• Keep a journal of small lucky moments to reinforce a positive mindset.

5. Turn Setbacks Into Setups for Success

Lucky people don’t avoid failure—they use it. They see obstacles as temporary and look for ways to turn bad luck into an advantage.

Example: J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter manuscript was rejected by 12 publishers before one finally took a chance on it. Instead of giving up, she kept going—and became one of the world’s most successful authors.

How to Do It:

• Instead of asking, “Why did this happen to me?” ask, “What can I learn from this?”

• Remember: Many “lucky” people failed multiple times before their breakthrough.

• Reframe rejection as redirection—what new path has opened because of this?

The Truth About Luck: It’s Not Magic, It’s Mindset

Luck isn’t just about fate—it’s about the way you think, the choices you make, and the way you react to life’s events. The more you say yes, trust yourself, and stay open to opportunity, the more “lucky” moments will start appearing.

So, can you make yourself luckier?

Absolutely.

It’s not about waiting for fate to intervene—it’s about creating the conditions for luck to find you.

Start small. Say yes to something new, trust your instincts, and expect good things. Your next lucky break might be closer than you think.

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