How luck Happens: Using the Science of Luck to Transform Work, Love, and Life by Janice Kaplan and Barnaby Marsh

Here we concentrate on getting lucky as you deal with the health care system. First, you should deal with things you can control like diet and exercise as genetics only account for 25% of negative outcomes. Both can extend your life and make it more enjoyable. Rather than delivering your body to the doctors and letting them do what they want, you need to engage in conversations so that you are an active participant. When it comes to tests, beware of false positives and their consequences. Regular visits are recommended so that you can form a good working relationship with our doctor, always be polite and respectful, and don’t go alone if possible.

When a disaster happens, the key to being luckier than the next person can come from a willingness to prepare, thinking calmly, and involving your higher brain. Always make sure an alarm is false before you turn it off. In a hotel know where the stair exits are. Where ever you are, know the ways out. Do the simple stuff like wearing seatbelts. Avoid both mass hysteria and wishful thinking.

To make luck you have to think ahead. It is important, therefore, to have goals and most young people don’t. What you aim for has a lot to do with where you end up. If one plan fails, try another and expect things to change as you get older. Having a big picture view of what you want and where you are going is like using a compass as a guide rather than letting the river take you where ever it goes.

The answer to the question “Are you a lucky person?” should always be yes. The first step to a lucky life is a positive attitude. Just doing this research has resulted in one author (Janice) feeling luckier. They found that where you live, how much money you make, your gender or your marital status do not impact your chances of feeling lucky. The authors believe that you can choose your attitude, and an optimistic outlook can determine if you have a life that you find to be lucky.
The quality of your relationships impact your luck and your health. The definition of a good relationship is one where you can count on the other person to be there for you. Relationships beyond romantic ones are important too. We can’t control everything, but we can control more than most people think. Luck is not a moment in time, but a lifetime of moments you make. Thanks Janice and Barnaby and keep up the good work.

Janice is the former editor and chief of Parade Magazine and the author of thirteen popular books, including the New York Times bestseller The Gratitude Diaries. She appears regularly on network television and has enjoyed success as a television producer, writer, and journalist.
Barnaby is an expert on risk-taking and has done pioneering research on decision-making in complex situations. He works with leaders of major organizations and does research at the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics at Harvard and the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton.