This note are written according to my conversation with Gemini Advanced on 20/06/2024

Q: Gem, what is the difference between luck and chance

A: Luck and chance are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between the two:

Chance is a neutral term referring to the probability or possibility of something happening randomly. It's the roll of the dice, the flip of a coin, or the draw of a card. Chance doesn't have any inherent positive or negative value.

Luck is how we perceive the outcome of chance events. It's the value judgment we place on whether the outcome is favorable to us or not. So, if a chance event results in something we want, we call it good luck. If it results in something we don't want, we call it bad luck.

Here's an example to illustrate:

Chance: You buy a lottery ticket. The odds of winning are low, but there's still a possibility.

Luck: If you win the lottery, you'd say you're lucky. If you don't win, you'd say you're unlucky.

In essence, chance is the random event, while luck is our interpretation of that event's impact on us.

Q: So could I say luck is real?

Whether luck is "real" depends on how you define it.

If you define luck as a measurable force or phenomenon that directly influences events, then scientific evidence suggests that luck is not real. Events happen due to various causes and probabilities, not because of some mystical force of luck.

If you define luck as the subjective experience of positive or negative outcomes in chance events, then luck is very real. Our perception of luck is a psychological phenomenon influenced by our beliefs, expectations, and interpretations.

Research has shown that people who consider themselves lucky tend to:

Be more optimistic: They expect good things to happen, which can make them more open to opportunities.

Be more observant: They notice and seize opportunities that others might miss.

Be more resilient: They reframe setbacks as learning experiences rather than failures.

These characteristics can create a self-fulfilling prophecy, where people who believe they are lucky end up having more positive experiences because of their mindset and behaviors.