A to Z of Luck : C is for Courage, Charm, and Calm

It's day 3 of my project to provide an antidote to the pessimism we find all around us, by exploring the ways that we can make our own luck.

I believe we all are surrounded by a myriad of opportunities,and that the genius of luck is first, being able to see them, and second, being able to take advantage of them. I believe there are things we can do to make luck more likely, to help us make the most of the opportunities that are around us, even if the wider economy is in recession.

Each day will be themed around a letter of the alphabet, and today it's the letter "C".

C is for Courage, and for Charm, and for Calm.

Seneca observed that "It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult"

Nothing brings luck like taking action on opportunities. Nothing impedes it more than feeling paralysed by guilt. Having the courage to take action, to take the first step on a journey, can make all the difference.

I recall Prince Charles suggested that moral courage, like physical courage, needs to be practiced. Being brave in small ways - making a phone call, asking for help, speaking up when you see unfairness - can all lead to better luck.

C is also for Charm. People who are charming, are also attractive, and attract luck and other opportunities. It's not about looks, it's about being someone others want to be around.

Being positive is charming. Being interested in others, and happy in your own skin is charming. And to start with, courtesy is charming: it never hurts to say please, thank you, and excuse me, in a sincere and friendly way. That's not to say we need to get hidebound by etiquette codes, which serve to delineate who is in, and who is out. The true purpose of courtesy,and codes of manners, is to set up a system where others feel comfortable. That is not to say that you need be a pushover. It is possible to be both charming and assertive.

And finally - C is about Calm.
If you're always running here and there, if your life is constantly full, there won't be any space to reflect. Stop every so often, take time to small the roses, to find an oasis of calmness. You'll feel better, and be better able to direct your energies.

So to attract luck: be courageous, be charming, be courteous, and find some calmness every once and a while.

Tomorrow: the letter D