We've all experienced moments of luck - good and bad - but sometimes it can feel like your BFF is swinging on a lucky star while you just can't seem to catch a break. Not. Fair. So why are some people hogging all the good stuff? Well, it's not about loading your pockets with lucky charms. It's been scientifically proven (in the, ahem, Bliss lab) that good fortune has more to do with how we think, act and behave. Max Gunther, author of The Luck Factor, believes that there are five things which lucky people do that the unlucky don't. Do them and you'll soon find that your luck will change. Simples.
1. Make spider webs
Not literally, obvs! Max says one tool of lucky people is that they're open, friendly and weave a web of contacts around them. "The more people you talk to, the more you increase your chances of getting a lucky break in life," he explains.
So, if your ambition has always been to work in fashion, make sure that you tell everyone you meet that it would be your dream job. One day, someone you once met and spoke to about your dream might cross paths with someone who works for a design house. If they're looking for an intern, they'll remember your enthusiasm and suggest you. And kerching - the web has worked!
2. Trust your tummy
You know that weird feeling you get in your stomach when you think you know what's going to happen? Well, that's a hunch. Us girls are supposedly better at trusting our instincts than boys because we listen to our feelings (and to any boys who read this, listening to your feelings does not mean realising that you fancy Rihanna more than Beyonce).
"Every day, we gather lots of knowledge subconsciously," says Max. "That's why we come to a conclusion about something without knowing why." So if you don't feel sure about something, ask yourself why. Your sixth sense might know before you do. Spooky!
3. Take some risks
Stop waiting for good stuff just to drop into your lap. "Luck is always drifting past us," says Max. "We just have to be brave enough to reach out and grab it." So quit playing it safe, take chances and enjoy the rewards! Speak out and answer that question in school. Audition for that play. Show someone that song you've written. And Lady Luck might knock at your door.
4. Spin the wheel of misfortune
"Know when the wheel of luck might turn in an unlucky direction - and stop it!" warns Max. This might sound scary, but is basically means not letting things get out of control. If something doesn't feel right or if you're not happy in a certain situation, instead of sticking your fingers in your ears and singing, freeze it in its tracks before the circumstances have chance to get worse than they are.
5. Be prepared for bad stuff
As much as it may seem that your jammy mate gets nothing but good fortune, you can bet that isn't the case. You need to accept that sometimes, things won't go your way, and be able to move on. As much as we'd love to find Taylor Lautner's phone number in the street one day and win the lottery the next, this isn't realistic. It might suck, but we should never think we're immune to the odd bit of bad luck.
"Remember the old saying - if something can go wrong, it probably will," advises Max. "So, if you're prepared for the worst, then everything good that happens will be a bonus." This doesn't mean you have to be constantly pessimistic - more that you're able to take the negative stuff, knowing that it won't last forever.
* Become a luck magnet *
People who are obsessed with being unlucky sometimes forget to notice what's amazing in their life as they focus too much on the negative. Every day, think of all the things you're grateful for and what makes you happy.
Lots of athletes and celebrities swear by visualisation. The next time you're hoping for a certain outcome, see it happening in your mind. This makes it seem possible (we're always visualising RPatz doing a topless Bliss photoshoot...).
Say "Yes, I can do this." If you believe in yourself, you can do anything you set your mind to.
Don't be afraid to grab new opportunities. Yes, new things can be scary, but wouldn't this be a boring world without the odd risk.
