We often view luck as something beyond our control—a cosmic roll of the dice that determines our fate. But what if this fundamental assumption is wrong? What if luck isn’t just random chance, but something you can actually influence, cultivate, and grow through deliberate actions and mindset shifts?

This isn’t wishful thinking or new-age philosophy. Over the past two decades, rigorous scientific research has revealed that people can indeed increase their exposure to opportunity and favorable outcomes through specific psychological strategies and behavioral changes. The most successful individuals aren’t always the most talented—they’re often the ones who have learned to create their own good fortune.

Welcome to the fascinating world of “luck science,” where psychology meets opportunity, and where you’ll discover practical, evidence-based methods for growing your own luck in measurable ways.

The Scientific Foundation of “Growing” Your Luck

The idea that we can actively cultivate luck might sound whimsical, but research over the past two decades tells a different story. Scientists, psychologists, and behavioral researchers have found compelling evidence that while you can’t control randomness itself, you can absolutely influence your exposure to opportunity—and that’s what most people experience as “luck.”

The Landmark Research: Dr. Richard Wiseman’s “Luck Factor” Studies

The most significant breakthrough in luck research came from Dr. Richard Wiseman’s decade-long study at the University of Hertfordshire. Wiseman’s research identified four behavioral traits that differentiated self-described “lucky” people from their less fortunate counterparts.

These weren’t people born under lucky stars—they simply lived in ways that maximized their exposure to chance opportunities. The research revealed that luck becomes less a matter of superstition and more a matter of strategic behavior and psychological positioning.

The Neuroscience Behind “Lucky” Behavior

Modern neuroscience research has begun to explain why Wiseman’s principles work at a biological level. Studies using fMRI brain imaging show that people who consider themselves lucky have different patterns of brain activity:

This research suggests that “lucky” behaviors literally rewire the brain to become better at recognizing and capitalizing on opportunities. The more you practice these behaviors, the more your neural pathways optimize for fortune-finding.

The Four Pillars of Luck Cultivation

Based on decades of research from psychology, behavioral economics, and neuroscience, we can identify four key areas where intentional effort can increase your exposure to good fortune.

The Surprising Role of Randomness in Success

A fascinating twist in the science of luck reveals that even highly talented people may not always rise to the top—unless random factors intervene favorably. This research has profound implications for how we think about merit, effort, and fortune.

The Talent vs. Luck Model

A groundbreaking 2018 study from the University of Catania used complex computer simulations to model the relationship between talent and luck in determining success. The results were surprising: the most successful individuals in the simulation were not the most talented, but rather moderately talented people who encountered the most lucky breaks.

“Random events play a dominant role in success, despite individual merit. However, this doesn’t diminish the importance of preparation—luck favors the prepared mind.”
— Dr. Alessandro Pluchino, Lead Researcher

This doesn’t mean hard work doesn’t matter—it means that being in the right place at the right time, repeatedly, can dramatically amplify your efforts. And the research shows that certain mindsets and behaviors increase how often you step out to meet those opportunities.

Evidence-Based Strategies for Growing Your Luck

While we can’t script serendipity, we can adopt specific daily practices that increase its likelihood. Here are the most effective, research-backed strategies for cultivating good fortune.

Daily Practices That Expand Your “Luck Surface Area”

The Social Dimension of Luck

One of the most powerful ways to increase luck is through strategic relationship building. Research on social networks and opportunity reveals that most “lucky breaks” actually come through weak social ties—acquaintances, friends-of-friends, and casual connections.

The Psychology of Opportunity Recognition

One of the most crucial aspects of growing luck is developing what psychologists call “opportunity recognition”—the ability to spot potential advantages that others miss. This skill can be trained and improved through specific cognitive practices.

Pattern Recognition and Cognitive Flexibility

Lucky people excel at recognizing patterns and making unexpected connections. Research in cognitive psychology shows that this ability can be enhanced through deliberate practice.

The Attention Training Connection

A crucial finding in Wiseman’s research was that lucky people are more relaxed and open-minded, which allows them to notice opportunities that stressed, focused individuals miss. In one famous experiment, participants were asked to count photographs in a newspaper. Lucky people finished quickly because they noticed a large message that read: “Stop counting, there are 43 photographs.” Unlucky participants missed it entirely—they were too focused and stressed.

Mindset Shifts That Attract Opportunity

Beyond specific behaviors and practices, growing your luck requires fundamental shifts in how you think about and interpret the world around you. These cognitive changes create the psychological foundation for all other luck-building strategies.

From Scarcity to Abundance Thinking

People who consider themselves lucky tend to operate from what psychologists call an “abundance mindset”—the belief that there are enough opportunities, resources, and good outcomes to go around. This contrasts sharply with “scarcity thinking,” which assumes that someone else’s success diminishes your own chances.

Redefining Failure as Information

One of the most powerful mindset shifts for growing luck is changing how you interpret setbacks and failures. Research on growth mindsets shows that people who view challenges as learning opportunities rather than threats to their competence are more likely to persist and ultimately succeed.

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. Each ‘failure’ brings me closer to the solution.”
— Thomas Edison (attributed)

This reframing isn’t just positive thinking—it’s strategic thinking. When you view setbacks as data rather than defeats, you’re more likely to extract valuable lessons and maintain the persistence necessary for long-term success.

The Dark Side: When Luck-Seeking Becomes Counterproductive

While growing your luck through evidence-based strategies is beneficial, it’s important to recognize when luck-seeking behaviors can become problematic or self-defeating.

The most effective luck cultivation maintains a balance between openness to opportunity and strategic focus. This connects to broader research on how rituals and practices can enhance confidence without crossing into problematic superstition.

Measuring Your Luck Growth: Tracking Progress

Unlike many personal development goals, luck cultivation can be measured through specific metrics and observational data. Tracking your progress helps maintain motivation and identifies which strategies work best for your particular situation.

Quantitative Luck Metrics

Qualitative Assessment Tools

Beyond numbers, regular self-assessment helps track the psychological and behavioral changes that underlie luck cultivation:

The Long-Term Perspective: Luck as a Life Strategy

Growing your luck isn’t about quick fixes or overnight transformations. It’s about adopting a comprehensive life strategy that positions you to recognize, attract, and capitalize on opportunities over the long term.

The Compound Effect of Luck Practices

Like compound interest in finance, luck-building behaviors create exponential returns over time. Each positive interaction, every new connection, and all the skills you develop create a foundation for future opportunities. Research on social capital accumulation shows that these effects can persist for decades.

Cultural and Individual Variations in Luck Cultivation

While the core principles of luck cultivation appear universal, research reveals important cultural and individual differences in how these strategies are best implemented.

Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Fortune Creation

Different cultures have varying approaches to creating good fortune, though the underlying psychological mechanisms remain consistent. Understanding these variations can help you adapt luck-building strategies to your cultural context and personal values.

This diversity of approaches connects to broader research on how different cultures understand and create luck through symbols and practices.

Conclusion: Your Personal Fortune Garden

Growing your luck isn’t magic—it’s applied psychology and strategic behavior change. The research is clear: while you can’t control random events, you can absolutely influence your exposure to opportunity, your ability to recognize potential, and your resilience in the face of setbacks.

The most “fortunate” people aren’t necessarily the smartest or most skilled—they’re the ones who stay open to possibility, maintain diverse networks, trust their intuition, and persist through difficulties. They’re gardeners of opportunity, planting seeds of curiosity, watering them with optimism, and harvesting unexpected fortune along the way.

Key insights from the science of luck cultivation include:

• Behavioral Basis: Luck is largely a product of specific, learnable behaviors and cognitive patterns
• Network Effects: Most lucky breaks come through social connections, particularly weak ties
• Attention Training: The ability to switch between focused and open attention modes is crucial
• Resilience Advantage: Reframing setbacks as opportunities maintains momentum through difficulties
• Long-term Perspective: Luck cultivation creates compound advantages that accumulate over years

The journey of growing your luck begins with a single step: choosing to believe that you have more influence over your fortune than you might think. From there, it’s a matter of consistently applying evidence-based strategies, tracking your progress, and remaining open to the unexpected opportunities that will inevitably arise.

Remember, you’re not powerless in the face of chance—you’re an active participant in creating your own good fortune. Start small, stay consistent, and watch as your “luck” begins to improve in measurable, meaningful ways.

Ready to begin your luck cultivation journey? Try our Lucky Button as a daily reminder to pause, appreciate the good fortune in your life, and open your mind to the possibilities around you. Sometimes the journey toward better luck starts with a simple moment of gratitude and intention!