Luck is considered by many to be a force that can influence good or bad events—some sort of magical energy that helps people win lotteries or ruins their travel plans with unforeseen storms. But, while these events seem to occur without any explanation, we shouldn’t be too quick to attribute them to good or bad luck. 

Finding money on the ground is the most common example of luck. It is unexpected and can be beneficial for the finder in a capitalistic society. Even so, it isn’t objectively positive.

A hundred dollar bill is only valuable because we perceive it as such; in most modern cultures, having more money is better, and people are driven by a desire to attain financial success. However, a young child who has not yet learned the importance of money would have no reaction to discovering this green slip of paper, nor would a billionaire whose financial situation is entirely unaffected by such a miniscule amount. 

If luck truly is a force of nature, how would it determine what is valuable to people? The true cause of “luckiness” is mindset and perception. In order to feel lucky, people must perceive something as valuable and have the optimistic mindset to take notice of positive things more often than negative ones.

Furthermore, the misfortune of the original owner of the money in the previous scenario is rarely acknowledged. This is because it is recognized that the loss of that money wasn’t a spontaneous bout of bad luck, but rather an event within a cause and effect series. 

A carelessly placed bill in someone’s pants pocket leads to them losing it, which leads to someone else stumbling upon the windfall cash. This sequence of events is predictable given the initial poor decision-making of the “unlucky” civilian; therefore, there is no magical luck involved, just logic. 

An item that is viewed as lucky, like a charm or socks, motivates people to try harder and perform better. Conversely, a bad omen, such as a black cat crossing one’s path or the number 13, puts people on the edge and makes them actively search for the bad thing that is bound to happen. Luck is inherently psychological.

According to medicinenet.com “Research studies investigating why people believe in superstitions reveal that for many people, superstitions can reduce anxiety and promote a positive mental attitude. When we are unsure of an outcome, we may find ways to control it even if it’s only in our minds.” 

The results of a football game are determined by a number of interconnected, chronological events: plays made by the athletes, calls made by the referees, decisions made by the coaches. This doesn’t stop committed fans from wearing their lucky jerseys to the game or players from going through their lucky pre-game rituals. These things serve as comfort and motivation, mentally pushing the team towards a victory while they face the stress of an unpredictable final score.

As psychology advances, it is becoming clearer that the brain is a world of its own, and it manipulates experiences, among other things, to shape everyone’s unique perceptions of the world. While “luck” is a convenient explanation of events for the brain, it is ambiguous, immeasurable and irrational beyond the scope of the individual’s mind. In this context, it simply doesn’t exist.