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We've all heard well-known proverbs like "luck of the Irish." Similarly, your parents might have urged you to pick up a four-leaf clover as a child to bring good fortune. Or perhaps wearing a particular colour of socks is a long-standing custom you follow to help your sports team win. Although luck isn't a novel concept, you may be incorporating it into your life in new ways. The phrase "Lucky Girl Syndrome," which describes the notion that good things will come to you if you believe you're lucky, has been used in a recent TikTok trend. As a result, a lot of people are using this phrase to manifest. So, you may be asking: Is there anything wrong with following this trend?
The 'Lucky girl syndrome' trend has reappeared as 2025 approaches, which is to be expected given that this is the season most frequently linked to goal-setting, resolution-making, and planning. The idea behind the craze is that if you tell the universe how lucky you are regularly, you will eventually start to be lucky – to manifest that luck – and be rewarded with that promotion, proposal, or pay increase, depending on what you really want.
First of all, it's critical to understand that this is merely a colloquial expression and not a legitimate medical diagnosis. Dr. Albers notes that Lucky Girl Syndrome is more of a mental state than a true "syndrome." Telling yourself that you're truly fortunate and that good things are coming your way is a form of positive affirmation. A better moniker, in my opinion, would be "The Lucky Girl Effect or Phenomenon." Generally speaking, Lucky Girl Syndrome is an old concept with a more modernized moniker. Dr. Albers points out that this term would be even more beneficial and inclusive if it did not also use the term "girl." "Gender is not a factor in this. This is a mindset that anyone can adopt," she says.
In essence, lucky girl syndrome—which is centred on luck—is showing up. Since the beginning of time, our brains have been wired to be automatically biased toward negativity. Since our brains haven't changed all that much, anything that counteracts the negativity bias can be quite beneficial. Mel Robbins, a motivational speaker and New York Times best-selling author has a fantastic metaphor that I believe is helpful. According to her, our mindset is like a pair of sunglasses; it determines how we perceive the outside world. And our behaviour and, consequently, the things we do will be greatly influenced by the way we perceive the world.
This can be as easy as focusing on the positive rather than the negative and telling yourself that everything will work out. Several TikTok creators who created videos about people they knew who were simply "always lucky" served as the inspiration. Many people have taken notice of this, which has sparked a lot more videos and discussions about it. Simply put, Lucky Girl Syndrome is a term that explores the concept of the "law of attraction" and manifestation techniques in an attempt to change pessimistic thinking. With this idea, you can consciously draw the things you want into your life.
The lucky girl syndrome fails to acknowledge the unfairness of life. Furthermore, it disregards the fact that some people have greater privileges than others. The systemic and structural biases and inequalities that exist in the world are not taken into consideration. Additionally, it excludes negative feelings and emotions, which are a natural part of life. Ignoring negative emotions isn't a self-compassionate approach, and even though it might seem to help at the moment, those emotions will eventually catch up with us. There are many similarities between toxic positivity and lucky girl syndrome. It might end up being just another tool to beat yourself with if you give it a try and it doesn't work for you. If you already feel weak or unsteady, Another reason why you might feel self-conscious could be this.
Numerous pieces of evidence demonstrate the limitations of positive thinking alone. By itself, adopting a positive outlook won't pay your mortgage or land you a promotion, but it can motivate you to take steps to better your life. Additionally, not everyone has equal access to opportunities or resources. As we dive deeper into the truths of this discourse, we cannot fail to acknowledge one fact- everything we focus on is what manifests its being into our life.
Studies have demonstrated that it increases people's self-esteem, confidence, and motivation while lowering stress levels, according to Dr. Albers. The Lucky Girl Syndrome, she adds, can be a useful mindset to turn negatives into positives because our brains tend to lean toward the negative.
For each of us, good luck takes a different form. This will therefore differ based on your identity and the circumstances of your life. Although there isn't a single positive affirmation that will work for everyone, you can find the positive aspects of life by adopting a positive mindset.
To apply Lucky Girl Syndrome to your own life, follow these steps:
We can use positive affirmations to increase our luck every day. Our brains are primed to seek out instances of fortunate things when we wake up and tell ourselves that we are lucky throughout the day. At the end of the day, we can reflect on our day and record any fortunate or fortunate events that occurred. This aids in teaching our brains to identify and concentrate on the good things that occur in our lives.
Among the lucky-related positive affirmations are:
Sometimes the words we use to convince ourselves that good things are coming are insufficient. For this reason, visualization is yet another effective strategy that can increase our chances of success. Speaking positive affirmations, making mood boards, and keeping a journal can all complement this. Simply visualizing being fortunate can activate some of the feel-good neurochemicals in the brain, such as serotonin.
Our relationships with friends, family, and acquaintances can have a significant effect on how we feel. And without the help of others, we are unable to achieve our goals or be happy with our lives. We can improve our chances of "being lucky" by surrounding ourselves with new people and circumstances.
It's more about the ritual that can make you feel more connected to your luck and more confident than it is about thinking that a four-leaf clover will solve all of your problems. Having sentimental symbols or small customs that make you feel lucky is perfectly acceptable.
It's crucial to maintain a healthy balance, even when thinking positively. Additionally, it's crucial to exercise caution when interpreting them, as is the case with many internet-based trends. Therefore, be cautious when someone mentions Lucky Girl Syndrome as a remedy for all of your negative experiences. Combining this fortunate way of thinking with practical action in your daily life is crucial.