The Luck Factor--Changing Your Luck, Changing Your Life: The Four Essential Principles Dr. Richard Wiseman
Fate or Choice? Are you lucky or do you create your life opportunities? This book answers these questions based on psychological research. And the answer is…the way we think impacts the choices we make and the opportunities we approach. Dr. Wiseman lists four principles and then concludes his book with a luck school modeling what “lucky” people think and do so that readers can be “lucky” too.
With fun exercises that let you know just how lucky you think you are or how your thinking might impact your opportunities, this book is fun and engaging! Readers take surveys that the research used in compiling the data for the book. So rather than telling us about the scientific process, we experience it for ourselves.
The four principles of the Luck Factor, according to Dr. Wiseman:
- Maximize your chance opportunities
- Listen to your lucky hunches
- Expect good fortune
- Turn bad luck into good
The first step to being lucky, Wiseman states, is making a written statement of your intent. This acts as a sort of contract with the self to try to be lucky. The next step involves reflecting on the ways your “luck profile” shows luck strengths and weaknesses. This helps you to know which of the four principles you can work on and which you are doing well. As the third step, Wiseman suggests incorporating the techniques via the exercises throughout the book focusing on the areas where you want to build strength.
These exercises encourage you to move toward the thoughts and behaviors that lucky people demonstrate. Perhaps you want to build your network, since the greater number of contacts you have then the greater chance that someone will be able to connect you to something you want. Maybe you want to be open to more new experiences because that too exposes you to more opportunity. Some people distrust their gut feelings or hunches; however lucky people trust these bodily indicators as part of their wisdom. Lucky people often expect to be lucky in the future, so affirm your luck, or set goals that you think depend on luck. Additionally, expect your interactions with people to be lucky. Visualize good things coming from your relationships.
And very pragmatically, turn your bad luck into good luck. Consider the positive flip of any bad luck that might seem to come your way. You never know how ill fortune can turn into good fortune later on. It is the way you think that draws so called lucky experiences to you, so don't dwell on bad luck. In fact, take steps to prevent it if you see clear steps to do so.
