Lucky people meet their perfect partners, achieve their lifelong ambitions, find fulfilling careers, and live happy and meaningful lives. Their success is not due to their working especially hard, being amazingly talented, or being exceptionally intelligent. Instead, they appear to have an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time and enjoy more than their fair share of lucky breaks.”
–Dr. Richard Wiseman

Believe it or not, scientific research shows that luck can be cultivated. When we do the things that “lucky” people do, we become luckier (and happier) ourselves! Here’s a starter tip: Lucky people talk to strangers. They greet strangers in coffee shops, talk to people in lines, chat with fellow airline passengers.

Take Action: This week, cultivate luck by greeting the people around you with a smile and a little conversation starter. (“Beautiful day, eh?” will work.) The bonus is that when we model lucky behavior, our kids pick it up.

Join the discussion: How do you kickstart a conversation with strangers?  Share in the comments!

Do something kind today for someone who’s a regular part of your life.

There is a lot of scientific evidence that happiness and kindness are deeply intertwined (see “What You Get When You Give.”) For that reason, I don’t think we can be truly, lastingly happy if we are not also kind.

Take action: This week, take a moment to look beyond yourself and focus on what you have in common with others. Being kind doesn’t need to take extra time; it can be a simple shift in your mindset. See if you can go about your daily business with an air of kindness towards everyone in your path. As the Dalai Lama has famously said: “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

Join the discussion: Have you noticed your how your kindness to others impacts your own feelings of content? Share in the comments below.