From my experience, most people have a very strong opinion on the notion of "luck." Whether you believe luck exists and is a palpable force in our lives, or you believe people alone are responsible for the opportunities that they receive, in the past there has been much debate over whether or not luck can realistically exist. Nonetheless, there is one thing that nearly everyone can agree on, no matter which side of the "luck" argument you fall on: the idea of luck is a pretty funny thing.
Like it or not, it seems to play a part in our lives. What part precisely is up for debate, however. When something goes right for us, we declare that we're "lucky" it happened. On the contrast, when a mishap occurs, we lament our "bad luck." With the idea of luck, it seems like so much of our lives and what unfolds in life is the work of some unknown forces at play. It's a freeing and also terrifying idea. However, I have a proposition that will make you feel perhaps a bit more in control: make your own luck.
What does that mean exactly? I've wrestled with trying to come up with a definition for that idea, and I think I've finally come up with one. To me (at least), it means that you have to create your own good fortune, your own opportunities, and that you have power over your circumstances instead of the other way around. You can make things happen for yourself.
To start "making your own luck," all you have to do is come to terms with the fact that you get out what you put in. You can't not dedicate yourself to something at all and then expect to gain large benefits from it. You get what you give. That being said, if you put your soul wholeheartedly into something, it will pay off eventually.
Furthermore, opportunity is a big portion of the notion of making your own luck. You create your own opportunity. Don't accept anything less than what you desire; if you feel that chances to thrive are skipping you, go out and seek them.
Instead of waiting for things to flow into your life, take ownership of your opportunities. Make things happen for yourself instead of waiting for them to come to you, and you'll be so much happier. Alternately, some might believe that when something is really for you, you won't have to "chase" it. Well, there's a massive difference between chasing something and working for something. You're not going to get the results you want -- in any area of your life -- if you don't put yourself in the position to get there. People don't just wake up one day and become Olympic Athletes. People don't just wake up one day and write a New York Times Bestseller. You have to put in the work to reach those levels. By doing that, you're not "chasing" something that isn't meant for you, you're giving yourself the opportunity to achieve a dream by creating your own opportunities. If you don't start making your own luck, it's so easy to just begin settling. And this is the time of your life that you shouldn't be looking to settle, but searching for something more.
There might be some validity to luck, but by always showing up for what you care about, you're giving yourself better odds. That in itself is something to be proud of.