A few years back, my friend received a job offer in Sydney. After much hesitation about whether she possessed the courage to leave behind her family, friends, and her two cats to embark on a new life across the globe, she ultimately decided to take the plunge.
Just a couple of weeks into her stay in Australia, an unexpected encounter transformed her life forever.
It was a bright Saturday morning when she went out for a stroll in her new neighborhood. There, she spotted a vibrant pink lacy skirt displayed in a shop window, tried it on, and loved it enough to purchase it and wear it right away.
While walking down the street, a woman inquired about the source of her skirt, leading to a conversation. It turned out that this woman had relocated to Sydney just six months prior.
‘I can recall that moment vividly,’ my friend reminisces. ‘We stood on a bustling street, with people bumping into us, yet we remained in place, engrossed in conversation…we shared so much in common.’
However, this was merely the start of her series of fortunate events. She joined her newfound friend for lunch along with her friend’s companions.
‘I felt hesitant about intruding on a lunch with unfamiliar faces,’ she shares. ‘But my friend persuaded me, and I decided to join them.’
‘At the restaurant, I met a colleague of hers, and within minutes, I knew he was the one for me.’
A few months later, he moved in with her, and a year after that, they tied the knot. She continues to reside in Sydney with her husband and young son.
She humorously claims that the key to finding love, friends, and happiness lies in donning a bright pink skirt. Nevertheless, it seems the true essence of happiness is embracing the opportunities life presents…remaining open to serendipity.
Serendipity is described as a fortunate encounter or accident that leads to a joyful…and occasionally transformative…outcome. Without such serendipitous moments, many significant discoveries might never have existed.
Examples include the microwave, vaccinations, X-rays, the Pill, and penicillin, which was discovered when Alexander Fleming unexpectedly observed that mold in his Petri dish eradicated the nearby bacteria.
Post-it notes also owe their existence to a man who, while attempting to create a strong adhesive, inadvertently produced a weak one instead.
But why do fortunate accidents appear to occur for some individuals and not for others? Can we enhance our chances of experiencing more serendipity, or at least learn how to recognize and capitalize on it when it arises?
The SerenA project invited individuals to share their stories to identify if any patterns emerged in their experiences.
Thus far, the stories involve a woman who discovered the love of her life after boarding the wrong train, and a 91-year-old who realized her
dream of riding a motorbike after a conversation with a stranger who owned a Harley-Davidson in a cafe.
So what conclusions did the researchers draw from these shared experiences?
‘Through analyzing these patterns, we’ve discovered that serendipity is more than mere chance,’ states Dr. Stephann Makri, who is involved in the project. ‘While none of the interviewees actively engineered the opportunities that came to them, they consistently shared two key traits.’
‘Firstly, they recognized when an opportunity was presented to them. Secondly, they took action to seize it.’The action was taken when the opportunity arose.
‘Experiences like unexpectedly encountering an old acquaintance on the street who then offers a job or introduces you to your soulmate require several things to align.
‘First, you have to recognize the familiar face. Next, you must pause to converse with them, even if you’re pressed for time or running late. Lastly, it’s important to follow up on whatever arises from that interaction.’
In essence, serendipity encompasses a degree of luck that lies beyond our control, and yet, you must possess the insight to recognize and act on the opportunity.
Richard Wiseman, a psychologist, concurs. He dedicated years to the study of serendipity, resulting in his book, The Luck Factor. His goal was to uncover why certain individuals always seemed to find themselves in fortunate situations.
Wiseman discovered that these individuals were not inherently luckier; they were simply better at identifying and seizing opportunities.
In one study, he instructed participants to read a newspaper and inform him of the number of photographs it contained. Secretly, he had inserted a message midway through that stated, ‘Stop counting — there are 43 photographs in this newspaper’.
‘It was right in front of everyone, yet those deemed unlucky often overlooked it, while the lucky ones noticed it,’ Wiseman explains.
What accounts for this? ‘Unlucky individuals generally experience more tension than their lucky counterparts, which hinders their capacity to notice the unexpected.’
‘Consequently, they miss out on chances because they are too preoccupied with searching for something else. In contrast, lucky individuals tend to be more relaxed and open, allowing them to perceive what is present.’
So, how can you cultivate a greater openness to serendipity?
Wiseman offers several suggestions. Engage with others…the more connections you have, the higher the likelihood of chance encounters.
Be willing to stray from established plans. Unlucky individuals often resist breaking their routines. Embrace the possibility of failure. Serendipity favors those who explore new opportunities rather than fret about potential pitfalls.
Research is also examining whether our growing dependence on technology is diminishing serendipitous moments. While technology streamlines our lives, it also narrows our experiences, which stands in opposition to serendipity.
However, there are exceptions. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and online dating can bring individuals together in unexpected ways, reminiscent of a friend’s experience.
She had been participating in online dating for almost a year and was on the verge of giving up when a certain profile piqued her interest.
‘One statement in his profile mentioned that he cherished “those serendipitous events that make life interesting”.
The mere fact that he correctly spelled “serendipitous” and used it appropriately made me like him,’ she chuckles. ‘We met, and it turned out he lived just ten minutes away from me.
‘That was a year ago, and we’re still going strong. I attribute our meeting to serendipity. And yes, good spelling too.’
by Susan Floyd
