Learn to be Lucky

[sabrinamari]

ingridsummers posted a link to this article, which reports the findings of a study on "lucky" and "unlucky" people.

It also includes some excellent advice on how to cultivate "luck":

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3304496/Be-lucky---its-an-easy-skill-to-learn.html

Hmmm, what other words can we use to talk about "luck"?

Comments

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

I live Richard Wiseman's work (and how apt is his name??). His website gives the opportunity to participate in his research, which I've done a couple of times - not at all onerous, just a survey at regular intervals of weeks or months.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

It is an appropriate name.

Here, there's a home security company with a name that seem sto be pronounced "Slow-Man'...the "Slow-Mans shield". Really unfortunate for a company that installs alarms and monitors security breaches.

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

They're actually bionic, but they're so fast at responding that we can only see them moving if the camera slows the action down.

[sligoe.livejournal.com]

Just another way of saying that what you put out into the universe comes back to you. Perfectly sensible. :)

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

yes---relaxing into the flow and noticing cues leads to good timing and well-embraced possibilities.

[roy-batty.livejournal.com]

I find the correlation between "luck" and relaxation to be interesting, and to jibe in nicely with some other currents. In the martial arts (at least the ones I study) we have a triad of skill/courage/luck; I jokingly asked my teacher one day 'when will we get to the luck training?' His response to my jest took me offguard: In a way, he said, skill and familiarity produce luck - he then recounted tales of his teachers positioning themselves just so in relation to surroundings, or absentmindedly moving chairs and such, so that when the shite did go down, the 'field' was in his favor - obsacles protecting him and hindering the antagonists, improvised weapons at easy hand.

So training in the arts, integration of the concepts so that preparation is ongoing and constant in the background is one part, but it strikes me that the main comment given by almost any/every "master" is . . . *relax*. Relaxation makes you a better artist, a better athlete, a better practitioner regardless of particular practice. So relaxation leads to better proficiency, better proficiency leads to more luck.

Heh - what was it Obi Wan said to Luke? "Relax, and let The Force flow through you, let it guide you." In so many ways we need to be relaxed to listen, to take in input. If the universe is going to give us even the slightest nudges, how will we ever feel them if we're too tense to notice?

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Well said!

[hypanebliss.livejournal.com]

Wu Wei, keep on rockin' in the free world, being present, being, stillness, looking past everything and seeing the in-between spaces. Livin the dream within a mystery machine while we open our eyes and delight at the surprise.

Because every moment is beauty.

[gracewillow.livejournal.com]

That's really interesting research about making your own good luck. I tend to agree. Opportunities pop up when you least expect them, but you have to be open to them in things like job searches and when you're looking for romance, etc. etc. The weirdest coincidences have happened to me in the least-expected ways just because I was trying to keep my mind open. Specifically, good weird coincidences...

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I've been surprised even when I wasn't being very open. Michael had to pursue me for days, and then he practically knocked me over the head repeatedly to make clear his interest. I slipped away a number of times, but he was persistent.

I'm glad he didn't take no for an answer. :)