Do you ever wonder how some people manage to be so fortunate in life when you look at them? When it comes to their jobs, relationships, or the little things in life, some people seem to have all the luck.

On the other hand, some folks just can’t seem to make things go their way. Events frequently turn for the worst once anything happens to them.

So what distinguishes the fortunate from everyone else? Is it possible to change your actions, or are some people just luckier than others?

What Separates Lucky People From the Rest

How luck affects people’s lives has been the subject of research by professor Richard Wiseman. He has devoted a lot of his time to learning how lucky breaks occur and why some people are more likely than others to benefit from them. Wiseman started by comparing a group of people who claimed to be “lucky” and “unlucky”

The first intriguing difference is that those who are fortunate tend to be far more outgoing than those who are unlucky. He discovered that fortunate people make for smoother conversation since they typically smile more and make more eye contact than unlucky people. Wiseman claims that these inclinations raise their likelihood of being fortunate because they meet more people and form connections more quickly, which creates more possibilities.

Another notable difference is that whereas unlucky people are more neurotic, lucky ones tend to be more easygoing in life. Wiseman instructed participants to follow a moving dot in the middle of a computer screen while unexpected dots flashed on the corners of the screen to observe how fear affected performance. The dots on the side were noticed by almost all participants.

He then repeated the experiment, but raised the stakes. To increase anxiety levels, he offered a financial reward to subjects who focused on the center dot. As a result, over a third of participants missed seeing the same dots on the edges of the screen.

Overall, anxiousness sharpens our focus on a task but may prevent us from taking advantage of other chances. We may understand how people undermine their goals because they are overly focused on attaining one thing at the expense of other opportunities when we relate this information to luck.

Unlucky people might look for one particular job position, but miss out on other equally viable career paths. They might talk to a few familiar people at a gathering and miss out on meeting new people. Or, they’re so focused on getting somewhere that they don’t notice a $20 bill sitting on the sidewalk.

Their receptivity to new experiences is the third key distinction between the fortunate and the unfortunate. Wiseman discovered that fortunate people are more likely to explore new environments and activities. They’re more inclined to travel, interact with others, and generate new chances, like beginning a side business, for example.

Finding chances that are a good fit for your personality and strengths is more possible if you try out a variety of activities. Stephen Hawking, a physicist, provided one of the clearest examples of this when he remarked, “I was lucky to have chosen to work in theoretical physics, because that was one of the few fields in which my condition would not be a serious handicap.”

Unlucky people, on the other hand, are more likely to be complacent in their lives. Even if they feel discontent, they rather stay where they are than venture out and try something different.

Are you feeling content in your life or simply being complacent?

Increase Your Luck With a Few Mindset Changes

If someone opened a course that taught you how to become luckier in life, do you think that the course would improve your life? Would you enroll?

Wiseman established a “luck school,” where participants underwent a series of exercises and classes that taught them how to improve their luck, as a result of his research into the science of luck and his discovery of the characteristics that separate lucky and unlucky individuals. They developed their ability to recognise opportunities, to be more optimistic, and to make better decisions.

The end result? Transformational.

Eighty percent of participants said they felt happier, more content with their life, and luckier than before after a month. The self-described lucky people boosted their luck even more, while the previously unfortunate people began to feel fortunate.

We can infer from Wiseman’s research and lessons that luck is more complex than random chance. It involves making choices that improve the likelihood of such possibilities materialising and utilising those chances.

You too can increase your luck by making a few simple changes.

1. Have an open frame of mind.

It doesn’t always follow that everything is out of reach just because you can’t accomplish one thing. Constantly concentrating on one goal can prevent you from seeing other opportunities that are equally as valuable, if not more so. You offer yourself a better opportunity of attracting luck into your life when you are open to trying new things and going new places.

Being the smartest is not important, as I already stated. Consistency and having a positive mindset are more crucial.

2. Keep a positive attitude.

People who are fortunate often view things favourably. For instance, when a car accident occurs, an unfortunate person could complain about all the hassles it created, while a lucky person might respond, “Fortunately nobody got hurt.”

The benefit of making trying new things easy is another advantage of this approach. Maintaining a positive outlook makes you more willing to try new things because you anticipate favourable outcomes.

3. Try something outside your comfort zone.

Every time we take a risk and do something out of the ordinary, we worry that we’ll come across as silly. But fortunate people are aware that such feelings are common when encountering something new. Simply put, feeling strange is a necessary component of success.

Never straying from your routine puts you at danger of missing out on fascinating possibilities and adventures. What novel endeavour will you attempt this week?