Tough Luck

Though St. Patrick’s Day flew by this past week, I highly doubt that any of us have been on the lookout for four-leaf clovers, pots of gold, or leaping leprechauns. As of now, the majority of college students have outgrown their childhood beliefs of luck but should we still consider luck as a factor in our professional and daily lives?

In our modern day society, there is one dominating way we seem to perceive luck, as a blessing that occurs when an individual does not deserve it. Coming from a competitively hard-wired school like Berkeley, we often encounter comparative statements in conversation like, “Oh, she just got lucky”.  This method of thinking is the least effective not only because it devalues another person but because luck is not some mystical intangible substance. From my experiences, luck is best seen and developed as a mindset, one that each person can attain.

1. Gratitude is the greatest form of luck.

For those of us that always feel unlucky, the easiest method of ridding yourself of the “bad luck” is to notice just how lucky you are because, truth is, you are lucky. Once you begin noticing the positive sentiments in each day, it becomes a snowball effect and happy circumstances will surround you, simply because you become more conscious of them.

1. Society’s view of luck encourages self-pity and excuses.

If we begin to credit other people’s success or lack of success to luck, the world will seem forever unjust. In convincing yourself that some naturally have it better than others, you may end up justifying your own laziness and lack of productivity. Luck is not meant to be an unfair system that disintegrates your ability to succeed.