Have you ever looked at some people and thought they were fair lucky And that everything always seems to be going their way? Well, according to a new mental health ‘hack’ going viral on social media, you don’t need to be jealous of them anymore as you too can harness the power of being ‘lucky’. The method dubbed the Lucky Girl Syndrome uses a powerhouse appearance And positive affirmations and says that if you think you are really lucky, good things will happen to you. Seems simple enough, right? But what exactly is the “lucky girl syndrome”?
The trend on TikTok was started by user Laura Galebe who first posted a video in December last year. “There is literally no better way to explain it than it sounds like the odds are completely in my favour,” Laura said in The Video. The technique entails saying to oneself, “I am lucky and everything will always work out for me in the end. The universe is on my side.” By applying this positive mantra and positive outlook to every aspect of their lives, users have noticed that things are actually working out for them more.
Is there any science behind it?
Concept Self-affirmation Not new. A study conducted by Christopher N. Cascio in 2015 noted that there is MRI evidence that certain neural pathways are increased when people practice self-affirmation tasks, PositivePsychology.com reported. Dr Samant Darshi, Consultant Psychiatrist, Psymate Healthcare Hospitals and Yatharth Super Specialty agreed: “Powerful thinking or a positive way of thinking can be a great tool. What it does is keep you focused on the odds of success in any situation. It can keep you motivated and optimistic. This encourages you to make decisions from a place of strength rather than fear. Strong thinkers use their creativity to create positive results. He explained that staying focused on purpose and positivity in any situation is very important.
Adding, Dr. Rachna Khanna Singh, a mental health and relationship expert at Artemis Hospital, said the benefits of positive affirmation are indeed many. “Research shows that it helps reduce stress, increase well-being, improve academic performance, and make practitioners more open to behavior change. It is a form of self-help; it helps you believe in yourself and what you are capable of achieving.” Indianexpress.com.
Also, life coach Rachelle Indra posted a video on her Instagram explaining the neuroscience behind the syndrome. She claimed that the part of the brain called the reticular activating system (RAS), which is a network of neurons, is the part that monitors our perception of the world. And by saying “I’m lucky” you can train the RAS to filter out negative information, change the way you think.
But are the affirmations enough?
The trend also has its fair share of skeptics. Lucky Girl Syndrome is criticized by some saying it is part of “toxic positivity” a movement. In an interview with HarpersBazaar.com, Executive Career Coach Lisa Quinn is quoted, “Depending on who you ask, it’s either an empowering practice that can see you achieve your dreams by repeating daily affirmations like ‘Everything is working out fine for me’ or, it’s a non-inclusive, toxic social media trend for rich girls.” And whites do not check their own privilege.” She added how the Lucky Girl Syndrome does not take into account cultural biases and ignores that some people are simply more fortunate or lucky than others.
Even Dr. Rachna agreed that there are some downsides to positive affirmations, too. These seem to work in the short term but not in the long term. It also does not allow for negative feelings, which are a huge part of everyone’s life.”
So, take these directions with a grain of salt. While “think positive” is an adage as old as time for a good cause, be prepared to back it all up with concrete actions or plans.
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