The Difference Between Fortune and Luck

During the course of conversation amongst friends, someone mentioned that "so-and-so is quite fortunate" and that got me to thinking that I'm not exactly sure what "fortune" is. Just what is the difference between fortune and luck? It's one of those grey areas in my mind that has always been hard to define. Is being fortunate the same thing as being lucky? For example, the other day I reached in my back pants pocket and found $5.00 dollars and I couldn't believe my good fortune. This as opposed to meeting and marrying my wife or watching my daughter grow up which makes me feel extremely lucky.

By the same token I don't think "luck" is some innate quality that a person is born with. I'm of the mindset that fortune is an extension of luck. A person can't just wait for either good fortune or good luck to arrive. You create your own luck by the opportunities you take and or make and the results of said opportunities ultimately create your personal sense of fortune. Now whether "fortune" to you means something tangible like a big house or good-paying job or something little more metaphysical like good health or a positive outlook on life is strictly in the eye of the beholder.

When I reflect on individuals I've had the pleasure of knowing in my life that I felt were both fortunate and/or lucky I have found that they all share several common denominators:

1) They take advantage of "chance" opportunities! Ever notice that "lucky" people never turn their backs on a new opportunity? It's been said that every opportunity leads to another one. And somewhere among all those opportunities is the gold nugget you're been looking for. Being open-minded, networking and being inquisitive are all elements that lead to unexpected opportunities which in turn lead to unexpected success.

2. Gut instincts are often the right instincts! Some of the wisest decisions ever made were acted on by an individuals listening to their intuition and gut feelings. Again, this isn't just "luck". And you can actually boost your intuition by maintaining a positive view of life, by meditating and staying clear of negative energy.

3. The body achieves what the mind believes! In other words, if you expect good fortune, it will usually follow. This is not to say that if you walk into a casino in Las Vegas you're going to hit it big on 25 cent slot machines. But you never know! If you were ask someone who considered themselves "lucky" why they felt lucky -- they would probably tell you that their future was going to be full of good fortune. Conversely, this same self-fulfilling prophecy allows you to have nothing but bad luck and misfortune if you so desire.

4. Look for the silver lining. I'd hate to think that there are individuals out there who thrive on misfortune, but like the boxer who is an expert counter-puncher, if you can roll with the bad and shake it off, you're gonna find your opening and land a knockout punch.

One of the smartest quotes I ever heard goes like this: "...It is good to be smart. It is even better to be lucky. But, it is critical to know the difference..."

The difference between luck and fortune? Look for one and the other will follow!