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3 Ways to Make Yourself Luckier in Life, According to Psychology

A psychologist shares three practical ways to recognize opportunities, overcome setbacks, and put yourself in a better position for success.

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Do you believe we make our own luck in life, or do you believe certain individuals are randomly blessed with luck?

According to psychology, both our actions and attitudes influence our luck (or lack thereof). Two people can view the exact situation with opposite perspectives. For example, let’s say two individuals are rejected from the job they really wanted. 

One of those individuals feels wronged, cursed, and generally defeated. Rather than picking themselves up, dusting themselves off, and continuing to apply for similar positions, they repeat negative self-talk until they’re crippled by their own shame, recounting all the times they’ve been rejected by employers in the past. They chalk their entire job search experience up to being “unlucky.”

The second individual, however, feels the momentary letdown of the rejection, yet ultimately views it as redirection. They don’t wallow—they take action. They tweak their resume and cover letter, set up more interviews with other companies, and eventually land an even better role with higher pay. They walk away from the process feeling both “lucky” and........

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