Co-authored with Dr. Brian Williamson

A new year provides a chance for a reset, a refresh, a new beginning. With this opportunity, people often set New Year's resolutions. Common ones include losing weight, improving health, and learning new skills. Rarely do people think about improving their luck. Yet, luck can be improved.

The Roman philosopher Seneca is credited with saying, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Both preparation and opportunity require work, sometimes hard work, to learn new skills and gain credentials, or to establish connections and network to enhance chance encounters. Hard work can be draining; mentally, physically, and financially.

Is there a way to improve your chances for unplanned opportunities without trying? This is where serendipity comes into play. Serendipity refers to happy chances that feel magical and lead to unexpected opportunities. Research shows that serendipity isn’t purely random. It’s shaped by external events and our internal preparedness. By adopting certain habits and mindsets, we can enhance serendipity and, in turn, improve our “luck.” This article delves into the psychology of serendipity and offers strategies to court and harness life's unpredictable opportunities.

The word “serendipity” was coined by Horace Walpole in 1754 in a letter describing a happy accident. As it was a bit of a dullish letter, he wanted to make it more interesting, and launched a new word (in which Walpole was rather pleased). This new word was derived from a silly fairy tale, called “The Three Princes of Serendip,” describing a series of accidental discoveries made by curious and observant individuals.

As serendipity gained traction in the English language, psychologists have drawn strong parallels........

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