We all revel in a moment of good luck

When it happens, it surprises and delights us, lifts our mood, and makes us feel more generous and happy.

In my latest radio interview (audio at the bottom of the page!), I explored the science of good luck—and it turns out, good luck isn’t just something that happens to people. Psychologists have found that the luckiest among us all share a specific mindset and set of behaviours.

So, if you’ve ever thought, “Why do they get all the good luck while I get all the parking fines?”—this one’s for you.

The science of good luck: It’s not just chance

Seneca, the Roman philosopher, once said,

“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”

Another definition:

“Serendipitous events occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way, a kind of ‘happy accident’ that results in something valuable.”

We often think of good luck as something beyond our control. But what if it’s not?

Research suggests luck isn’t just fate—it’s a mix of mindset, awareness, and action.

The research behind luck

• Richard Wiseman, a psychologist and author of The Luck Factor, spent years studying lucky vs. unlucky people. His research found that luck isn’t magic—it’s a mindset and behaviour pattern.
• Derren Brown, a well-known psychological illusionist, ran a three-month experiment in the UK town of Todmorden to test whether belief influences luck.

And as you’ll see next—it absolutely does.

The Todmorden experiment: The butcher who missed his good luck

In 2011, Derren Brown ran a social experiment using the entire town of Todmorden, UK, to explore why some people seem luckier than others. The results? A fascinating mix of psychology, belief, and human behaviour.

One of the most striking examples was Wayne, the town butcher, who was utterly convinced he was unlucky.

Here’s what happened:

✅ A winning scratch card was placed in his letterbox. Did he check it? Nope, straight in the bin!
✅ A £20 street survey offer (free money!). Did he take it? No.
✅ A £50 note on the pavement. Did he pick it up? Walked straight past.
✅ A van with his name on it and a message in ginormous letters drove by multiple times, offering a mystery prize. Did he notice? Not at first—but eventually, yes!

Wayne wasn’t actually unlucky—he simply didn’t notice opportunities because he believed they wouldn’t be there.

However, the moment he finally acted on an opportunity, his ‘luck’ changed. He even risked his life savings on a dice roll—and won £5,000!

???? Lesson? Luck isn’t random—it’s about what you see, believe, and act on.

???? Watch Wayne’s journey:

What about lucky charms? Do they actually work?

At this point, you might be wondering:
“If luck is all about mindset and action, what about lucky charms and superstitions? Do they actually do anything?”

The science of lucky charms

Psychologists have found that lucky charms and rituals can improve confidence, focus, and even performance—not because they hold mystical powers, but because your belief in them influences your actions.

Can someone else ‘give’ you good luck? The power of external belief

Most people assume that luck is personal—something you either have or don’t. But research suggests that luck can be ‘activated’ externally—even if you didn’t believe in it before.

A study by Lysann Damisch found that golfers who were simply told they had a “lucky” golf ball performed significantly better than those with a ‘normal’ ball. They hadn’t spent years believing in that golf ball—someone just told them it was lucky, and it worked!

So, if you have a lucky coin, bracelet, or even a pair of socks you refuse to wash before a big event—you’re not necessarily being irrational. The belief itself helps boost your mindset, which in turn influences your actions. Want to dive deeper into the weird world of lucky charms and superstitions? Check out this article on how charms affect your luck.

Even more fascinating?

Luck doesn’t always have to come from your own belief—it can be borrowed from someone else’s confidence in you. If a friend says, “You’ve got this! Today is your lucky day!” you’re more likely to feel optimistic, take action, and notice opportunities—just like the golfers with the ‘lucky’ golf ball.

So, can you ‘borrow’ luck?

It seems that luck isn’t just a personal belief—it can be planted, activated, and shared.

Takeaway: If you want to boost your luck, surround yourself with people who believe in it for you. And, if you really want to test this, the next time someone is facing a big moment, casually tell them “This is your lucky day!” and see what happens.

How to amplify your good luck factor (backed by science!)

If you want to be luckier, science says you need to think and behave like a lucky person.

Here are Wiseman’s 4 Traits of Lucky People, alongside practical ways to bring them into your life:

1. Maximise chance opportunities (AKA: Chill out and open up)

Lucky people talk to strangers, try new things, and put themselves in places where ‘luck’ can happen.

Why this works

Wiseman’s research found unlucky people are more anxious and have tunnel vision—literally. When we’re stressed, we focus so intently on one thing that we miss opportunities around us. Lucky people are more relaxed, use peripheral vision, and notice more.

How to do it:

• Take a deep breath. Relax. Expand your vision out to the sides—literally.

• Strike up a conversation with someone new (yes, even if it feels weird).
• Try something different this week. A new café, a new route home, a new hobby.

Want to learn how to expand your vision? Check out How To Create A Breakthrough State (Tip #3).

2. Trust your intuition (AKA: Listen to your lucky hunches)

Lucky people listen to their gut feelings and act on them.

Why this works

Your brain is a pattern-seeking machine. It notices subtle cues and connections before your conscious mind does. The more you listen to your intuition, the sharper it gets.

How to do It:

• Think back to a time your gut feeling was right. How did it feel?
• Next time you feel a gut instinct about a person, place, or opportunity—pay attention.

Extra Challenge: Write down three times your intuition has been spot-on. What did it feel like? Train yourself to notice it more often.

3. Expect good fortune (AKA: Your beliefs shape your luck)

Lucky people expect things to work out for them—and they do.

Why this works

Beliefs act like filters for reality. If you believe you’re unlucky, your brain actively ignores lucky breaks (just like Wayne the butcher). If you expect good things, you notice and act on them.

How to do it:

• Try the ‘3 Good Things’ exercise. Every day, write down three positive things that happened.
• Create a ‘lucky expectation.’ Every morning, ask: What lucky opportunities will I notice today?
• Drop the ‘I’m unlucky’ story. Even if you’ve had bad luck before, don’t reinforce it. Luck can change—fast.

4. Seize opportunities (AKA: Act on serendipity)

The difference between lucky and unlucky people? Lucky people act.

Why this works

‘Serendipity’ means happy coincidences—but if you overthink every opportunity, you’ll miss the magic. You can’t always predict where an opportunity will lead, but you can say yes more often.

How to do It:

• Next time an opportunity appears—take it. Even if it’s small.
• Say yes more often. You don’t have to know where it leads.
• Follow your curiosity. Explore things that excite you.

Your luck is in your hands

???? Listen to my radio interview on the science of good luck!

 

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Tags: Beliefs and values, Fun and laughter, Perception, Podcasts and audio tips, Self-awareness, Thinking and mindset