Felix Felicis

In Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Harry wins a small vial of “Felix Felicis” (liquid luck) from Professor Slughorn. The potion makes its drinker lucky for a short period of time, with Slughorn warning that “you’ll find that all your endeavours tend to succeed … at least until the effect wears off”.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all had access to liquid luck in our moments of need? What if I tell you that we can all conjure something very similar in our ordinary lives?

It’s simpler than you might think. It comes down to two attitudes: “You can just do things.“ and “Just get started already.” By focussing on a singular task and blocking out the distractions, you can enter a state of high agency, taking on each obstacle one by one as it comes without letting your enthusiasm or energy flag. I can’t always summon this mindset on demand, but when I do, it feels almost like a flow state. And more often than not, that mindset has helped me overcome challenges with surprising ease.

Three years ago, my aunt moved to our hometown and wanted to get her son admitted to a good school. But since the school year had already started, we were finding it difficult to secure a spot.

One day, I decided to hustle my way through it. I visited school after school, talking to anyone who’d listen. Finally, I went to the school where I had studied. I spoke to the person in the admissions office, but he was hesitant. It was the sixth school I’d visited that day, and I wasn’t ready to take “no” for an answer. So, I waited to speak to the principal. I knew that if I could make my case to him, I might be able to get somewhere. After more than an hour, I was called into his office, and to my surprise, he really listened to me. He asked about my career and what I’d been up to since I graduated from that school. In the end, he agreed that the child could be admitted if he cleared a test and caught up on the syllabus. It was exactly what we needed. Mannu, did clear that test and was able to secure the admission.

If you’ve watched Harry Potter, you’ve probably noticed how Harry’s body language changes after he drinks the liquid luck. There’s a lightness and a conviction in his actions as he follows his instincts - deciding to meet Hagrid instead of Slughorn. He’s able to navigate his situation with ease and ultimately get what he seeks.

Now, as “muggles”, we may not have access to magical potions, but we can still create our own version of liquid luck by cultivating focus, getting out of our own way, and simply getting started.