I started reading about how to be lucky
after a conversation this weekend. I had an author event at a bookstore, and because of successful magical spell in my book Her Time Traveling Duke, we got on the topic of luck and manifestation.
I know that logically, it doesn’t make much sense to wonder about how to be luckier. It’s all random, right? At the same time, I’ve always considered myself an extraordinarily lucky person.
How I Know I’m Lucky: 2 Examples
1. I’ve blogged about this before, but within a few months of parting ways with the Hallmark Channel, I got a literary agent and a two-book deal from a dream publisher…because I happened to hear about opportunities, and responded to them on a whim.
2. A handful of years back, I made a list of 100 life goals, just for fun. I was running out of ideas near the end, and I wrote something crazy: “be a guest on a national talk show.” Needless to say, there was no reason anyone would have me on a talk show.
In less than a year, I was on a nationally broadcast morning show. Another guest was Scott Kelly, the astronaut brother of former astronaut and U.S. senator Mark Kelly. The hosts of the show baked the delicious muffins based on the recipe in my clean and wholesome romance, Sunrise Cabin, and we ate them and chatted.
I have a lot of other examples like this. Whether or not I believe in manifestation, it often seems like manifestation believes in me. So what’s going on here?
What Science Says About How to Be Lucky
Get this: more than one study has shown that people who think they are lucky have better luck.
Some people would say this is the Law of Attraction at work, but scientists would point to more rational explanations. These studies show that people who think they are lucky are more likely to notice good things in their path. People who think they are lucky are also more likely to try things, because they can envision positive outcomes.
I got both my agent and my book deal through last-minute opportunities. I could’ve told myself that when a publisher says they’re looking for “fresh voices,” they don’t mean someone over 50. I could’ve told myself I would wait until I was better prepared. I could’ve reminded myself that when I shoot my shot, I almost always miss. But every time, I shoot my shot, anyway.
I could tell stories about myself that would make me seem like a very unlucky person. A few of them are ugly stories that would require trigger warnings. But I choose not to focus on those.
More Thoughts on How to Be Luckier
I do a spiritual ritual every morning. I’ve been doing it for the past 14 years. It begins with me saying thank you for so many of the things I am grateful for. It’s so easy to take huge blessings for granted. Family members, friends, pets. A safe, warm place to live. Plenty of food and clean water. Hot water. Electricity. Being cancer-free. When I’m saying thank you every morning, I include things like this.
One of the reasons I loved writing the character of Griffin in Her Knight at the Museum is that when he comes to life again, he takes nothing for granted. He’s excited about the blue sky above and the air in his lungs. This is so near and dear to my heart. Gratitude makes you happier, and it makes you feel lucky.
I think positivity gets a bad rap lately, as if all positivity is “toxic positivity.” There’s a difference between looking for the silver lining and denying the existence of clouds. Sometimes we can recognize that a situation is tough and still see a glimmer of hope, a blessing in disguise, or a new opportunity.
Since people who believe they’re lucky have been proven to be luckier, I think good luck charms are likely to be effective. It might be a piece of jewelry, an article of clothing, or omething carried in a pocket or a purse. It could be a certain meal or some kind of tradition. For instance, like many people, I say “rabbit rabbit” at the beginning of every month, before I say anything else, for good luck.
It could be an object in a certain place—such a horseshoe hung near a door, fuzzy dice hanging from a rear view mirror in a car, or bamboo placed in the southeast corner of your home. (Yes, I wrote the entry for feng shui for Encyclopedia Brittanica.)
No matter what you choose, these good luck charms can be tangible reinforcements of the idea that you’re a lucky person.
Do you have any thoughts about how to be more lucky?
Do you consider yourself a lucky person—or not so much? Do you have any superstitions about good luck or back luck, or stories about times when you experienced good luck? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
Thank you so much for reading, and I’m wishing you all kinds of good luck ahead!
Wonderful article form an incredibly wise viewpoint. Anticipating and claiming a wonderful, “lucky” future is key to experiencing one. I look at luck through life’s “windshield” anticipating the best, yet, I find the view in my “rearview mirror” fascinating as well. Sure, there’s roadkill here and there, but I’m grateful for the many treasures that I’ve stumbled across as well.
Hey there! I love the “windshield”/“rear view mirror” analogy! Thank you so much for reading, and for your post!
Interesting article, Bryn. I agree, gratitude and attitude go a long way. Perhaps timing too? Que sera, sera. Children of eleven live wrapped up in make believe and can be pretty vague at times, right? On safari in Kenya, aged eleven, my friend were standing up for a better view of a rhino, it charged. We fell out of the Land Rover as it pulled away rapidly. The short sited beast stopped short of us, eyes on the retreating dust cloud. It snorted and trotted of into the scrubland. Lucky for us. Later, SAME safari, we girls came across a flat topped thorn tree, festooned with a curtain of creeper that hung down to the ground. With grand schemes of playing ‘house’ within this intriguing discovery, upon reaching it we swept aside the curtain, only to come face to face with a herd of resting buffalo in the shady interior. We froze. They stared. Then as one they bellowed, and thundered off in to the sun, in the opposite direction. Lucky escape for us, having encountered two, notorious known as dangerous animals.
Hi Paula! OH. MY. GOSH. That is an amazing story! Yes, you girls were sooo lucky! Thank you so much for posting!
I just watched The Secret: Dare to Dream, a 2020 movie on Netflix and is of the same premise as your article and a good movie with Josh Lucas. I, too, can look back and think of things that could have gone the other way and I was lucky they didn’t.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Hi Tanya! Oh, I hadn’t heard about this movie. I will check it out! Thanks for telling me about it. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
I like to say I take advantage of opportunities. I hate when people say to me, “you’re so lucky,” especially when they didn’t enter the same opportunity I did–it feels like a put down. If I win–it’s mine. It has nothing to do with worth. A lot of it is chance, talent is another aspect, and sometimes it’s just random.
The post office lost the check for my college ring. The ring company filed a claim with the post office. I gave my testimony with my check number. I guess insurance took care of it, because I was never contacted about it again.
My friend and I were side by side filling out an entry for a trip. I won. It was a national contest.
I’ve won a number of national giveaways (paid my taxes, Uncle Sam).
I’ve been in two national commercials, and I earned the right to a SAG card (before it became SAG-AFTRA) with one. Bought my dining room furniture with that one.
I entered a free writing contest (judged). I was a runner-up. I became published with the submission.
Did I manifest any of it? I may have wished some things would actually come true. I’ve worked toward some things. Some things came as a total shock.
People don’t see the things I haven’t won, the opportunities I didn’t get, or disappointments I’ve felt when things haven’t happened, even if I put in the work.
Am I lucky? Maybe.
Hey friend! Oh, you bring up such a good point. People can think someone is lucky, but they don’t always see the effort or how many times we try. It kind of makes me think about the way people tell me they’d write if they had time—as if I’m not squeezing it in around my work, haha. Good post! Thank you!
I consider myself lucky (and blessed) to know you and count you as a friend. #fact 💜🤗💜🤗💜
Merry Lu, I’m the lucky and blessed one. #TRUERFACT 😂💙 Love you!
Many years ago, my dad often picked up hitchhikers and brought them home, fed them and gave them a place to sleep. My mom tolerated his generosity, but sometimes it was awkward. One day, Dad had gone to work, and the hitchhiker was still at their home. Mom had to leave soon to go to her job as a schoolteacher. She didn’t want to leave the man alone in their house. She opened her purse hoping to find a little cash to give him to encourage him on his journey but the only thing she found in her purse was one coin.
She offered it to him saying, “All I have is my lucky penny.”
Perhaps it was lucky. When she returned from school that afternoon he was gone.
Jessie, this is quite a story! Your dad clearly had a generous spirit, but if I were your mom, I would’ve been nervous leaving a strange man in my house, too. I’m glad he went on his way!
You know what? It may have been that she locked the door after they both left the house and the lucky penny was given on the porch. Sigh. I can’t ask either one of them to clarify because they each passed away many years ago.