When Good Fortune Meets Bad Luck

Fortune — good or bad — happens to you. Luck, on the other hand, is something you create!

Fortune comes in many forms: a loving family, a safe neighborhood, a good education, strong health, or nutritious food on the table. Yet many people with these advantages fail to harness the lucky opportunities in their environment. They believe that life simply happens to them, rather than claiming their agency to make things happen. As a result, they are fortunate but unlucky, and STALL waiting for something good to jump start their luck.

There are those who are both unfortunate and unlucky. They feel STUCK. Lacking resources, support, or safety, they grow resigned, convinced that nothing good will ever come their way. Overwhelmed by their circumstances, they struggle to see or seize even the small lucky opportunities available to them.

At the other end of the spectrum are those who are both fortunate and lucky. They have abundant resources and a strong sense of agency. To an outsider, it may seem as though they simply CRUISE through life, with opportunities magically appearing. But in reality, they recognize their good fortune and intentionally mine it to create even more lucky opportunities.

Finally, there are those who begin in unfortunate circumstances but learn to harness the luck in their lives. They may start with a CRAWL, spotting small openings and building on them bit by bit. With persistence and effort, they generate momentum, gradually attracting fortune their way. Over time, they may even move from crawling to cruising!

The 2×2 matrix illustrates these four conditions and the dynamic relationship between fortune and luck. They are certainly related, but distinctly different. The key to moving from the left side of the matrix, where you may feel stalled or stuck, is to take action.

There are so many ways to capture luck in your life, beginning with understanding that you have the agency to do so.