Fortuna: Is It Luck or Effort?

[DISCLAIMER]

Growing up under the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, my dad taught me not to believe in luck (a force that brings good fortune or adversity, and the events or circumstances that operate for or against an individual). Regarding my dad’s advisement against belief in luck, one source states:

Supernatural interpretations of luck consider it to be an attribute of a person or of an object, or the result of a favorable (or unfavorable) view manifested by a deity towards the lucky (or unlucky) person. These interpretations often prescribe how luckiness or unluckiness can be obtained, such as by carrying a lucky charm or offering sacrifices or prayers to a deity.

I was taught that Jehovah’s Witnesses reject polytheism (belief in or worship of more than one god) and that there was but one God (Jehovah). Also, I was informed about how some people in the past worshiped luck incarnate, Fortuna. Regarding this false goddess, one source states:

Fortuna (Latin: Fortūna, equivalent to the Greek goddess Tyche), historically anglicized as Fortune, is the goddess of fortune and the personification of luck in Roman religion who, largely thanks to the Late Antique author Boethius, remained popular through the Middle Ages until at least the Renaissance.

Although I’ve abandoned theistic beliefs, I appreciate what my dad taught me about luck. Even as many people with whom I’ve discussed this topic readily disregard the proposed existence of gods and goddesses, they regard luck as some supposedly indisputable force within the world.

Personally, such a view is irrational (not in accordance with both logic and reason). Then again, I’m wise enough to know that I don’t know everything. Therefore, I remain agnostic (holding the view that any ultimate reality, such as a supreme being, is unknown and probably unknowable).

Is Fortuna real? I don’t know. Is it the case that an undetectable force is responsible for fortune (prosperity attained partly through luck). I don’t know. What I do know is that I try not to live my life in subscription to irrational beliefs. When thinking of this topic, I’m reminded of a book.

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

The authors quote Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius who stated, “You say, good fortune used to meet you at every corner. But the fortunate person is the one who gives themselves a good fortune. And good fortunes are a well-tuned soul, good impulses and good actions” (page 164).

Rather than relying on an unfalsifiable concept such as luck, Aurelius ostensibly advocated use of effort (conscious exertion of power: hard work). Regarding this perspective, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 164):

What is the more productive notion of good luck? One that is defined by totally random factors outside your control, or a matter of probability that can be increased—though not guaranteed—by the right decisions and the right preparation? Obviously, the latter. This is why successful yet mysteriously “lucky” people seem to gravitate toward it.

For a moment, suppose there literally is some force within the universe that favors some people though not others. In this case, imagine that Fortuna actually exits. Even regarding this example, people in the past exerted effort to appease her (e.g., offering gifts in hope of receiving favor).

This appears to be the method of living proposed by authors of The Daily Stoic. Increasing one’s probability for success—through exertion of effort, which doesn’t guarantee success, is a more rational approach to life than maintenance of an irrational belief in random favor.

Now, suppose there isn’t some force within the universe that favors some people though not others. In this case, effort can still be exerted in the interest of successful outcomes. Noteworthy, this option also doesn’t guarantee success. About this matter, the authors state (page 164):

According to the wonderful site Quote Investigator, versions of this idea date back at least to the sixteenth century in the proverb “Diligence is the mother of good luck.” In the 1920s, Coleman Cox put a modern spin on it by saying, “I am a great believer in luck. The harder I work, the more of it I seem to have.” (That saying has been incorrectly attributed to Thomas Jefferson, who said nothing of the kind.) Today, we say, “Luck is where hard work meets opportunity.” Or is it typically flipped?

I don’t know whether there is or isn’t a goddess named Fortuna or a force within existence known as luck. What I do know is that effort applied towards my goals is a better strategy for success that exerting no effort at all. What do you think about my proposition?

Authors of The Daily Stoic cite relevant perspectives which essentially express the same proposal I’ve outlined herein. They also add (page 164):

Today, you can hope that good fortune and good luck magically come your way. Or you can prepare yourself to get lucky by focusing on doing the right thing at the right time—and, ironically, render luck mostly unnecessary in the process.

I invite you to consider that even if you maintain beliefs which I consider irrational, you can still use effort regarding the objectives for which you hope to achieve success. Who knows, perhaps Fortuna actually exists and will favorably smile at your efforts.

If the supposed goddess isn’t real, then you may still achieve success with the ends to which effort is applied. This is a matter of rational living, even if you maintain irrational beliefs—as perhaps we all do, to some extent.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

Photo credit, fair use

References:

Daily Stoic. (n.d.). Translating the Stoics: An interview with “The Daily Stoic” co-author Stephen Hanselman. Retrieved from https://dailystoic.com/stephen-hanselman-interview/

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Holiday, R. and Hanselman, S. (2016). The daily stoic: 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. Penguin Random House LLC. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-daily-stoic-366-meditations-on-wisdom-perseverance-and-the-art-of-living-d61378067.html

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