We all know someone who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. The friend who lands the dream job, meets the perfect partner, or stumbles into unexpected opportunities.
It’s tempting to chalk it up to pure luck, but research shows that “lucky” people don’t just get more breaks. They create them. Their mindset, behavior, and perception of chance are what make the difference.
The science of luck suggests that fortune favors those who are open-minded, socially connected, and willing to take small, consistent risks. In other words, luck isn’t random. It’s a skill that can be cultivated.
The Psychology of Perceived Luck
Psychologist Richard Wiseman spent years studying people who consider themselves lucky versus those who don’t. His findings? “Lucky” people aren’t necessarily more fortunate. They’re more attuned to recognizing and seizing opportunities.
They tend to have relaxed focus, meaning they notice things others overlook because they’re not rigidly fixated on one goal. Instead of obsessing over a specific outcome, they remain open to possibilities, allowing chance encounters or unexpected events to work in their favor.
Wiseman found that these individuals are also more optimistic, interpreting setbacks as temporary or instructive rather than catastrophic. This mindset helps them stay proactive, curious, and resilient. These three traits make luck more likely to find them.
Read The Psychology of First Impressions (and How Long They Last) to see how judgments can open or close doors.
Luck as a Function of Behavior
What looks like serendipity often comes down to behavior patterns. Lucky people tend to:
- Network widely, increasing their exposure to opportunities.
- Try new things, even when uncertain about the result.
- Follow intuitive hunches, trusting subtle cues from experience.
- Stay positive, making them more approachable and memorable to others.
These habits compound over time. Someone who regularly attends events, starts conversations, or pursues side projects inevitably encounters more possibilities than someone who sticks to routine. As author Seneca put it, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
The Brain’s Role in “Making Luck”
Neuroscience reveals that luck perception ties closely to the brain’s dopaminergic system, which governs reward anticipation and motivation. People who are open to new experiences have more active dopamine circuits, priming them to explore and engage with their surroundings.
This openness drives curiosity and exploration, leading to what researchers call serendipity potential, the likelihood of noticing meaningful coincidences. When your brain is alert and flexible, it connects patterns faster and makes associations others miss. That’s why “lucky” people often recall seeing things “no one else noticed.”
Even confidence plays a neurological role. Believing that good things can happen activates the prefrontal cortex, improving decision-making under uncertainty. Optimists literally process risk differently, interpreting ambiguous outcomes as opportunities rather than threats.
Check out The Surprising Science of Déjà Vu to understand how your brain connects patterns.
Training Yourself to Be Luckier
The good news: luck can be learned. Wiseman’s studies showed that participants who practiced “luck habits” for just a month, such as talking to one new person a week, breaking routine routes, or writing down three unexpected positives each day, reported significant increases in perceived luck and happiness.
To cultivate your own “luck mindset”:
- Stay curious. Explore environments outside your comfort zone.
- Look for patterns. Reflect on coincidences and what they might teach you.
- Expect good outcomes. Optimism fuels confidence and readiness.
- Act on opportunities quickly. Hesitation often kills luck.
Over time, these behaviors rewire your brain to notice possibilities that were there all along.
Explore Why You Always Think You’re Right (and So Does Everyone Else)to avoid cognitive traps that hide opportunities.
The Real Secret Behind Luck
Luck isn’t magic. It’s perception, persistence, and openness combined. The people who seem blessed by fortune are often those who create conditions for good things to happen. By expecting luck, they act differently, think differently, and see differently.
In that sense, “lucky” people aren’t chosen by fate. They decide to participate in it.
