In the dynamic tapestry of life, unexpected events often hold the keys to love, new relationships, and creative solutions. This is the essence of serendipity—a phenomenon that unfolds through surprise, agency, and value. Serendipity—“active luck”—plays a pivotal role in shaping our lives. Imagine a world where the unplanned becomes a source of opportunity and delight rather than an error to be minimized or the source of anxiety.

In a recent systematic review, I analyzed the existing research on serendipity to understand what makes serendipity, how it differs from “blind luck”—and what makes it more likely that it happens for us. In this post, I will distill some of the key insights.

3 Characteristics of Serendipity — and Why They Matter

Serendipity is a dynamic process rooted in surprise, driven by human agency, and imbued with subjective value. Many stories of love, new relationships, and breakthrough innovations have serendipity at their core. But what exactly sets serendipity apart, and how can we prepare ourselves for it?

1. Surprise: The Unveiling of Possibilities

At the heart of serendipity lies surprise—an unexpected, unplanned, or unusual event that captures our attention. It’s not just about objective occurrences; it’s about the subjective perception of astonishment. Serendipity is in the eye of the beholder, unfolding when we least expect it. Unlike structured efforts where improvement goals are predefined, serendipity thrives in the realm of the unforeseen.

2. Agency: Human-Driven Actions Beyond Blind Luck

Serendipity is not a passive outcome; it’s a product of effort, action, and a prepared mind. It distinguishes itself from blind luck by its reliance on agency—human-driven actions that connect the dots between seemingly unrelated events. By actioning on unexpected moments, individuals actively contribute to the serendipitous process through their awareness, creativity, and initiative.

3. Value

The value of serendipity is subjective, varying from person to person. It can manifest in the moment or reveal itself over time, with the potential to be elusive and ever-changing. What one finds beneficial might not hold the same value for others. Serendipity, in essence, is a dynamic interplay of surprise, agency, and the subjective assessment of value.

The Unfolding of Serendipity: A Dance of Triggers, Associations, and Materialization

Serendipity is not a linear process but a captivating dance of serendipity triggers (like accidentally spilling a coffee), associations (using the spill as an opportunity to talk with the person next to you), and materialization (going on a follow-up date with that person, who turns into our spouse). There’s often a time lag, an “incubation time,” allowing us to realize the significance of a serendipity trigger only after the fact—we connect the dots in hindsight.

The dance happens within the space of potentiality—all the potential things that could happen. We fix this potentiality into one particular outcome by our actions. But how can we do that?

How Individuals Can Influence Serendipity

Here are three ways that make serendipity more likely to happen in our lives:

1. Cultivating Detection Qualities: Qualities such as alertness and curiosity help us spot unexpected events when they happen. By being attuned to our surroundings, we can “prime” ourselves to see the positively unexpected more often. Serendipity often begins with the ability to detect anomalies and surprises. Then you start to “see” the opportunity in a conversation rather than discard it. An easy way to start unfolding potentiality is to ask “why?” more often.

2. Cultivating Linking Qualities: By learning how to connect the dots between unexpected moments and possible opportunities, we can develop the sagacity to see the value in the unexpected. For example, by asking in unexpected moments, like after an accidental coffee spill: could there still be meaning in this situation? Subjectively imbuing meaning, especially in times of crisis, can help connect the dots. It’s all about the ability to see patterns, make associations, and realize the potential value in unexpected observations.

3. Overcoming Inhibiting Qualities: Self-censoring is a killer of serendipity. You might have had a brilliant unexpected idea in a meeting, but you didn’t bring it up. “Serendipity missed”—because you held yourself back. Overcoming these inhibiting qualities is crucial for unleashing the full potential of serendipity. One way to do so is to think about the pattern behind the moments in which you held yourself back—is it for example based on fear of rejection? If so, you can start working on it—for example, by placing yourself into more “low-risk” situations where rejection can happen (e.g., asking for a discount in a shop), so that you get used to it and start seeing it as a part of life. And once you reframe situations from “what’s the worst thing that can happen if I do XYZ” (e.g., rejection) to “what’s the worst thing that can happen if I don’t do it” (e.g., the regret of not having tried), we realize that often it is riskier not to try than to try.

Conclusion

Serendipity is not a passive force but a dynamic process that we can actively shape. By cultivating detection and linking qualities and overcoming inhibiting factors, we can navigate the unexpected with a prepared mind. In a world full of uncertainty, serendipity becomes a guiding light—an active approach to leading life and a wellspring of unforeseen possibilities. Rather than fearing the unexpected, we can start to embrace it as a source of opportunity and delight, paving the way for a future shaped by the science (and magic) of serendipity.