Luck of the Welsh linked to doubt
Gloomy view of chance 'a self-fulfilling prophecy'.
Perhaps there are more broken mirrors, ladders to walk under or black cats in Wales. According to a survey published yesterday, the Welsh consider themselves to be the most unlucky people in the UK.
It revealed that more than two thirds of Welsh people surveye do not consider themselves to be lucky at all. Wales has the lowest incidence in the UK of being given change for 20 when they only handed over 10, for example, and only one in 10 of the surveyed Welsh said that they had ever been served first at a crowded bar.
The survey also showed that the Welsh have stepped in dog mess more than anyone else in the UK, and have been soaked by a passing car driving through a puddle on more occassions. One in four people questioned across the UK also said that they believed where you live has a direct influence on how much good or bad luck you get.
However, Welsh people were told not to give up hope of winning the Lottery or landing the dream job. A "Professor of Luck" said that people can change their luck by changing their outlook on life.
Dr Richard Wiseman, of Herefordshire University, has spent the past 10 years studying the psychology of luck. He said: "People's perception of how lucky they are is based purely on their optimism. The Welsh tend to be slightly more pessimistic an so often convince themselves that luck is not on their side. Being positive can not only make you feel luckier, but may even affect how lucky you are," the expert said. If you are pessimistic, scientific studies have proved that you are less likely to put effort into things, like going for a job. When these pessimists don't get the job they blame bad luck. Convincing yourselves that you are not going to succeed before you even try, and thinking you are unlucky is a self-fulfilling prophecy. In a sense you will actually give yourself bad luck."
The good news is that you can also change your luck for the better, and Dr Wiseman has given this advice for people who think that luck is not on their side of the border. "Focus on the positive and think of reasons why you are lucky," he said. "Write down a list of these things. For example, if you have food on the table and a roof over your head you should consider yourself lucky. The more people remember the positive things in life, the better they will feel about their life and the world."
"This will change your luck for the better because you will be more motivated, enthusiastic and energetic - and you will achieve more."
The luck survey was conducted for personal injury specialists Accident Line after it discovered that accidents were not spread uniformly across the country and because accidents and bad luck have always been traditionally linked. Marshall Phillips, aolicitor specialising in personal injury claims at Douglas Jones Mercer in Swansea said that quite often people coming to see him consider themselves to be very lucky after an accident, because the incident was not as bad as it could have been.
"I have represented a flying instructor whose student crashed a helicopter with him in it, and a man ran over by a lorry. Both of them were able to walk away from their accidents and considered themselves very lucky to be alive," Mr Phillips said. Representing clients all over Wales, Mr Phillips says he has seen "all sorts". "We had one woman who slipped over on a frozen pea in a supermarket and broke her leg - I think she saw the funny side of it," he said. "Accidents are just part of life. The Welsh I have represented don't often put these things down to bad luck and they are certainly no more likely to have an accident than anyone else."
When it comes to the ultimate in having good luck, people can't get much better than hitting the Lottery jackpot. And according to the man in charge of paying our Lottery money in Wales - the Welsh have been very fortunate. Bryan Thickins, regional manager for Camelot in Cardiff, said, "I have paid out more than 500m to Welsh Lottery players. Welsh people are as lucky as anyone. The difference is that we tend to be reluctant to tell people or receive publicity. We are a nation of pessimists - before Wales plays a game of football or a rugby match, you don't usually hear Welsh fans bragging or showing off. We tend to put ourselves down, if anything." Michelle Byrne.