New year, new luck: Why increasing serendipity is a skill

Co-authored with Dr. Brian Williamson

A new year offers an opportunity for a reset, a refresh, and a new beginning. People often take this opportunity to make New Year’s resolutions. Common ones include losing weight, improving your health, and learning new skills. Few people think about being lucky. However, your luck can improve.

The Roman philosopher Seneca is said to have said, “Luck is what happens when preparation and opportunity meet.” Both preparation and opportunity require effort, sometimes hard work, to learn new skills and gain qualifications, and to establish connections and networks to enhance chance encounters. Hard work can be draining. mentally, physically, and financially.

Is there a way to increase your chances of getting an unexpected opportunity without trying too hard? This is where serendipity comes into play. Serendipity refers to happy coincidences that feel magical and lead to unexpected opportunities. Research shows that serendipity is not purely coincidental. It is shaped by external events and our internal preparations. By adopting certain habits and ways of thinking, you can increase your serendipity and, in turn, your luck. This article delves into the psychology of serendipity and provides strategies for finding and taking advantage of life’s unexpected opportunities.

Understanding and strengthening serendipity

The word “serendipity” was coined by Horace Walpole in 1754 in a letter describing a happy coincidence. It was a bit of a boring letter, so he wanted to make it more interesting and started using new words (Walpole was quite happy with this). This new word is derived from a silly fairy tale called “The Three Princes of Serendip” which describes a series of chance discoveries made by curious and observant people.

As serendipity gained attention in the English language, psychologists drew strong parallels between it and the concept of “luck.” Richard Wiseman, psychologist and author of The Luck Factor, defines luck as the ability to take advantage of chance events. In Wiseman’s research, the lucky people consistently exhibited certain traits. This means they are open to new experiences, resilient in the face of hardship, and good at building social networks. These characteristics create an environment in which chance events are more likely to occur and be recognized.

Serendipity also includes mental flexibility and neuroplasticity, the ability to change perspectives and adapt to changing circumstances. When we approach life with curiosity, opennessyou become better at connecting seemingly unrelated ideas, leading to the “aha” moments that define serendipity.

The way we think greatly influences our ability to experience chance. A positive outlook and a curious approach to discovery encourage your brain to notice opportunities. This is supported by the psychological principle of choice. NoteThis suggests that we tend to focus our attention on things that are consistent with our beliefs and expectations. If you expect good things to happen and are able to examine the same thing from many perspectives with interest, you are more likely to notice and act on positive opportunities.

moreover, resilience play an important role. People who are able to reframe setbacks as opportunities for growth are more likely to encounter serendipity moments. For example, losing your job may lead you to discover a passion for entrepreneurship. This ability to “see the silver lining” turns challenges into springboards to unexpected successes.

Practical strategies for cultivating serendipity

Increasing serendipity requires a combination of psychological preparation and actionable actions. Here are eight strategies to improve your luck.

1. Cultivate curiosity: Curiosity is the basis of serendipity. Exploring new interests, attending different events, and delving into unfamiliar topics can expose us to a wider range of possibilities. This openness increases the likelihood of encountering unexpected connections and opportunities.
2. Build and maintain relationships: Social networks are an important source of serendipity. Interacting with people from different backgrounds broadens our horizons and opens us up to opportunities we might never have encountered on our own. Authentic conversations and active listening uncover common interests and potential for collaboration. It’s also important to resist avoidance tendencies, as difficult conversations and personalities can lead to breakthroughs.
3. Take action: Serendipity often favors those who are on the move. Whether it’s pursuing a hobby, volunteering, or starting a new project, taking action creates the conditions for serendipity to occur. Even small steps like attending a workshop or reaching out to a mentor can lead to unexpected opportunities.
4. practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness helps increase our awareness and ability to stay present and observe. According to Mindfulness-based founder Jon Kabat-Zinn, stress Mindfulness increases your awareness and makes you more likely to notice subtle cues and patterns that others may miss. This heightened awareness transforms ordinary moments into serendipitous moments.
5. Embrace failure and uncertainty: As I alluded to earlier, failure and uncertainty are often precursors to serendipity. By viewing setbacks as learning experiences rather than dead ends, you can continue to open yourself to new paths. Many successful inventions, such as penicillin and the microwave oven, were born out of unexpected accidents.
6. Promote cognitive flexibility: Train your mind to think divergently. Join us in activities that challenge our perspectives and biases. This flexibility enhances the ability to make new connections, a hallmark of contingent thinking.
7. Be generous: selfless act generosity It often creates a ripple effect of goodwill and opens the door to unexpected opportunities. It’s about offering advice, sharing resources, and connecting someone to an opportunity. Acts of kindness can create a ripple effect of positive outcomes.
8. set the goalBut please leave it open: Having a clear solution provides direction, but flexibility can limit the potential for chance. Balance focus and flexibility, leaving room for unexpected detours. Sometimes the most rewarding opportunities are off the beaten track.

An example of serendipity

History is full of stories of coincidences that shape lives. Alexander Fleming’s accidental discovery of penicillin in 1928 revolutionized modern medicine. Meanwhile, American engineer Percy Spacey discovered the microwave oven when a chocolate bar in his pocket near the magnetron unexpectedly melted. Other great inventions include X-rays (called “x” because Wilhelm Roentgen didn’t know the origin), vulcanized rubber (by Charles Goodyear), Post-It notes (by Spencer Silver), and Play-Doh. There is. Play-Doh is an interesting example of a new use for an existing product. When its original use for removing soot from wallpaper fell out of use, Kutol thought kids would have fun using it.

Serendipity can manifest itself in simpler ways in everyday life. Almost all of us have experienced a chance encounter that led to a new opportunity or a hobby that turned into a successful side hustle. By adopting the strategies outlined above, we can all create an environment in which such moments are more likely to occur. Here are my favorite chance encounters. In 2003, I joined Toastmasters to overcome my worries. fear of public speakingbut the chapter unexpectedly disbanded. A chance comment from my wife led me to Montclair State University, where I began a 20-year educational journey as an associate professor. This was a fortuitous result of the initial setback.

Serendipity is more than just luck. It’s a skill that can be cultivated. By cultivating curiosity, building relationships, and maintaining a positive, flexible mindset, you can increase your ability to recognize and act on life’s serendipitous moments. Luck seems to be more a matter of choice than chance. The more you intentionally create serendipitous opportunities, the luckier you will be. By stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing uncertainty, you can turn life’s unexpected moments into a path to success. By embracing serendipity, we realize that life’s greatest opportunities often lie in the most unexpected places.