Health Debunked: Why ‘Lucky Girl Syndrome’ May Not Work
Key takeaways:
Using “lucky girl syndrome” or other manifestation techniques and affirmations is not a proven practice. In fact, it may lead to unrealistic expectations and can even be harmful for some people.
While a positive mindset is good for your mental health, it’s also important to confront difficult feelings.
Research has found that too much daydreaming about your future can be counterproductive. Using SMART goals and building healthy habits may be more productive.
If you’ve been on TikTok recently, you might have noticed the hashtag #luckygirlsyndrome. Lucky girl syndrome is the latest manifestation trend, and it has thousands of people posting videos about how it’s worked in their lives.
Using manifestation and positive thinking isn’t a new concept — millennials had “The Power of Positive Thinking” and Gen X had “The Secret.” But what’s the science behind Gen Z’s “lucky girl syndrome”?
What is lucky girl syndrome?
Lucky girl syndrome is the name of a recent TikTok trend where people use manifestation techniques, such as affirmations and positive thinking, to turn life in their favor.
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Through repeating phrases like “I’m so lucky” and “everything works out for me,” they believe they can attract the things they want in life.
People are posting stories of getting things like unexpected money, job promotions, and romantic relationships after repeating these daily affirmations.
Why is the lucky girl syndrome so popular?
The lucky girl syndrome went viral in December 2022 after a user posted a video with the caption, “The secret is to assume and believe it before the concrete proof shows up. BE DELUSIONAL.”
In the video, the user explained how they constantly attract good fortune by simply saying and believing they are lucky. After the video went live, many others shared similar stories.
The fascination with using manifestation to create a good life isn’t new. Manifesting has seen a surge in popularity since the pandemic first started in 2020. Perhaps it’s because 2020 began a time of uncertainty, hopelessness, and an increase in mental illness. When we feel powerless, using our thoughts to manifest a better future can feel like a way to take that power back.
Claim: Lucky girl syndrome can help bring good fortune
Some claim the positive changes in their lives are due to believing and saying they are lucky. But the idea that we can use our thoughts to influence reality can be harmful for some groups of people.
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For one thing, it can create unrealistic expectations and can lead to self-blame if the desired outcome isn’t achieved. People with mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and OCD, may have an especially hard time dealing with this.
This practice also doesn’t take into consideration people experiencing cultural, social, and economic barriers. Unfortunately, things like racial bias and poverty cannot be manifested away.
What does the science say about lucky girl syndrome?
Currently, there is no research on the lucky girl syndrome itself. But here’s what research shows about the concepts surrounding the new phenomenon.
Positive affirmation
So far, there is a lack of research on whether affirmations lead to tangible success. Affirmations can be positive statements we say aloud to help improve self-esteem and increase positive thinking, like “I am good enough” or “I deserve this.” They can also be thoughts or behaviors that help us see ourselves in a positive light and empower us to face stressful situations.
But do they increase your well-being? Research is inconclusive, and it can depend on the type of affirmation. Some studies suggest affirmations can have positive effects. These include better problem solving under stress and improved confidence that you can act in ways that are in line with your values. These traits, combined with actionable steps, can help you achieve your goals and dreams.
But other research suggests affirmations like, “I love my body,” can backfire by drawing attention to your triggers.
While you can experiment with these types of affirmations, thinking of your past successes may help you feel more motivated to achieve your goals.
Optimistic thinking
Lucky girl syndrome is rooted in optimism. And having a view that things will work out may be linked to better well-being and reduced anxiety.
For example, studies show that optimistic thinking may foster the ability to adapt easily to change and better handle adverse events. Positively reframing your thoughts can help you maintain resiliency, have higher self esteem, and build relationships with people of a similar mindset.
Unrealistic optimism
However, unrealistic optimism, or expecting an impossibly positive future, can be dangerous and lead to disappointment or regret when things fall short of expectations.
You may also run into problems if you force yourself to feel positive or optimistic all the time. This is called toxic positivity, and embracing it can increase despair, mask important emotions, and cause you to feel isolated.
The illusion of control
Another risk of lucky girl syndrome is the illusion of control. That’s our tendency to overestimate the amount of control we have over things that happen in everyday life. This can be harmless in some circumstances. But it can also cause people to believe it is their fault if bad things happen.
And while this type of thinking may provide hope in the face of uncertainty, it can also lead to ignoring risk in dangerous situations.
Confirmation bias
Lastly, lucky girl syndrome may cause confirmation bias. This is the tendency to seek out information that only confirms your beliefs. People only remember the times when something worked out and forget the times it didn’t. This may prevent you from looking at situations objectively and making informed decisions.
For instance, maybe meditation or other stress-relieving practices have helped you through earlier challenges, like interviewing for a job. And as a result, you may attribute your success in getting that role to those techniques. But if you were to only rely on meditation when you looked for your next job and blocked out other steps you took to prepare, you might be missing out on key ways to set yourself up for success.
What do the experts say about the lucky girl syndrome?
Most experts who have weighed in on the trend seem to agree that it isn’t a healthy or realistic mindset.
Gabriele Oettingen, a professor of psychology at New York University, compared lucky girl syndrome to daydreaming in an interview. She said that while it’s important to acknowledge daydreams and wants, they only provide momentary comfort and satisfaction. Spending too much time fantasizing — also known as maladaptive daydreaming — can be a sign of a bigger problem and prevent you from taking action towards your goals.
So, should I try the lucky girl syndrome?
Probably not. That said, there are some aspects of the concept that can be helpful for your physical and mental health. This includes positive thinking and using affirmations related to your values and past achievements to boost your self-confidence.
But unrealistic optimism can harm you and others. It also may discourage you from taking steps to achieve your goals.
What to try instead of the lucky girl syndrome
So, what will help you pursue your goals? Let's take a look at six expert-backed methods:
The WOOP strategy can help you find and fulfill wishes while still taking into account obstacles.
The psychology of habit formation can help you make new helpful habits and break unhelpful ones.
Using the SMART goals method can be helpful for specific goals you have in mind.
Write down your goal — and be specific. Studies have shown this is an effective strategy to achieve your goals.
Giving a friend a weekly update on what you’re working on can help you with accountability.
Adopt a growth mindset. Believing that you have the ability to change and grow can help you better handle difficult emotions and situations.
Ultimately, accepting that failure and rejection are a normal part of life can empower you to bounce back from unfavorable outcomes. And next time something good happens, take a moment to realize your good fortune did not come from luck alone — but also from the steps you took to set and achieve your goals.
Why trust our experts?
References
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Carver, C. S., et al. (2010). Optimism. Clinical Psychology Review.
Cascio, C. N., et al. (2016). Self-affirmation activates brain systems associated with self-related processing and reward and is reinforced by future orientation. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
Chastain, A. (2012). SMART goals help you achieve success. Michigan State University.
Conversano, C., et al. (2010). Optimism and its impact on mental and physical well-being. Clinical Practice & Epidemiology in Mental Health.
Creswell, J. D., et al. (2013). Self-affirmation improves problem-solving under stress. Public Library of Science One.
Eagleson, C., et al. (2016). The power of positive thinking: Pathological worry is reduced by thought replacement in Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy.
Engeln, R., et al. (2020). I (don’t) love my body: Counter-intuitive effects of a body-affirming statement on college women’s body satisfaction. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.
Gardner, S., et al. (2015). Study focuses on strategies for achieving goals, resolutions. Communications and Media Relations.
La Ferla, R. (2021). Manifesting, for the rest of us. The New York Times.
Łakuta, P. (2022). A factorial randomized controlled trial of implementation-intention-based self-affirmation interventions: Findings on depression, anxiety, and well-being in adults with psoriasis. Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Lively, K. J. (2014). Affirmations: The why, what, how, and what if? Psychology Today.
Makridakis, S., et al. (2015). The costs and benefits of positive illusions. Frontiers in Psychology.
National Institutes of Health. (2022). Mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ScienceDirect. (n.d.). Confirmation bias.
Shepperd, J. A., et al. (2016). A primer on unrealistic optimism. Current Directions in Psychological Science.
Tao, W., et al. (2022). The influence of growth mindset on the mental health and life events of college students. Frontiers in Psychology.
Thartori, E., et al. (2021). Exploring the protective function of positivity and regulatory emotional self-efficacy in time of pandemic COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Wang, W., et al. (2017). Achievement goals and life satisfaction: The mediating role of perception of successful agency and the moderating role of emotion reappraisal. Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica.
WOOP. (n.d.). The science behind WOOP.
Yarritu, I., et al. (2014). Illusion of control. Experimental Psychology.
For additional resources or to connect with mental health services in your area, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. For immediate assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
