PART 1

This passage is about luck.

You probably know someone who is really lucky. People like this always seem to be in the right place at the right time, and everything they want appears to come their way, as if by magic. At the same time, there are unlucky people who sufferone misfortune after the other.

Most people assume that blind chance determines whether you are ‘lucky’ or not, but the latest research suggests that there is more to it than that. According to some experts, your character and behavior have a large part to play, and ‘being lucky’ is a skill that you can pick up.

Often simply believing that you are lucky is enough to make good things happen. People with this belief tend to be more confident and relaxed. They are more likely to take chances, and to make the most of the opportunities that come their way. On the other hand, if you decide not to take a risk because you are ‘unlucky’, you obviously limit your chances of success.

The researchers also found that people who are stressed are more unlucky. This is because they are so focused on their problems and on how to deal with them that they miss out on other opportunities.

So, if you want to maximize your good luck, relax, take the occasional risk and keep your eyes open. You should also avoid getting stuck in a rut. Talking to new people or simply varying your route to and from work can offer all sorts of unexpected possibilities.

Finally, your perception of how lucky you are can simply be a matter of attitude. If you slip and twist your ankle, you could curse your bad luck. Alternatively, you could get up smiling and think about how lucky you are that you didn’t break your neck!