Is luck random? Is it possible to manage it in any way? Why do some people seem to be born under a lucky star and others not? Is it really independent of our will? We will try to answer these questions based on the most recent studies.
Last update: January 14, 2021
Chance has accompanied us from birth: we choose neither the time nor the place nor the environment in which we will grow up. Nor many of the experiences we have during our existence. At first glance it would almost seem that luck determines everything, but in reality this is not the case. But then what is luck? Intelligence or chance?
Everyone talks about luck, but in fact it is not even easy to define this concept. It could be argued that it has to do with fortuitous events or circumstances that positively or negatively affect a person's life. In that sense, having luck would be tantamount to winning a large sum in the lottery; while bad luck, lose the winning ticket.
There are also those who have wondered if it is really linked to the case. There is no definitive answer on this, yet science has made numerous discoveries.
Luck, as in the lottery example, is closely linked to chance, this is well known. While the daily fortune, made up of fortuitous events that play in our favor it depends more on our abilities and a certain intelligence.
"Luck is nothing more than the ability to take advantage of favorable opportunities".
-Orison Swett Marden-
Luck and adversity
When we dwell on the life of the great historical figures, we are amazed to note that most of them have faced numerous adversities. In fact, hardly anyone can be called "lucky". Ultimately, they didn't get their successes by chance.
But in today's everyday life this rule does not seem to be respected and the innovative thesis of the physicists Alessandro Pluchino and Andrea Rapisarda and the economist Alessio Biondo demonstrates it.
The result of their studies was baffling to say the least: it wasn't the most talented or gifted individuals who got richer in the simulation. The factor that most influenced the accumulation of money was luck. Although the most talented have achieved a certain wealth, the fortunate individuals have distinguished themselves.
What is luck? What relationship does it have with logic?
The above presents us with two realities. On the one hand, we find all the people who have made a historical contribution to humanity and who, in most cases, have overcome great adversities.
On the other hand, moderately talented individuals who obtain more than remarkable economic successes thanks to luck; at least according to the study just cited. Is something missing from this equation?
Probably yes, or so the Doctor thinks Christian Busch, autore del libro The Mindset of Serendipity: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck and one of the 100 most influential thinkers in the world, according to The Economist, Diplomatic Courier, Ideas People and Davos 50.
According to Busch, the secret lies in that somewhat enigmatic word in the title of his book: serendipity. We are probably more familiar with the expression "fluke". But according to Busch, sudden moments of luck aren't necessarily the result of chance.
Rather, it's about making sense of the unexpected, the opportunity, and being ready to take advantage of it. The good news is that, according to Busch, that skill can be trained and developed. In this way, good luck can accompany us more often.
Opportunity hunters
In summary, for Christian Busch luck is also a matter of perspective. It "flees" from us when the need to control everything leads us to move away from the most uncertain paths. In other words, when fear of the unknown prevails.
The unexpected does not happen to cause us problems, but to induce us to see realities that may have escaped us before. Indeed, they often conceal the gifts of fortune, as long as we make ourselves available to receive them. Accepting the imperfection of reality, finding the answers in mistakes and responding creatively to the unexpected are the winning weapons of luck.
This is where the stories of the great characters meet those of the less talented (who, however, amass great fortunes). Both share the ability to deal with the news.
Many people fail to reach such heights because they want to live in a world inhabited by certainties, where possibilities stagnate and it is impossible to see the diamonds that shine in the apparent darkness of chaos.
