The latest phenomenon that is sweeping social networks in terms of personal growth is the so-called “lucky girl syndrome”. If you type these words on TikTok – or in its English version “lucky girl syndrome” – your screen will be flooded with videos of people defending the benefits of positive thinking to attract good things into their lives. Of course, there is also an abundance of user content denying this belief…
First of all, it must be emphasized that it is not a syndrome or a real disorder, but rather the popular name given to this positive trend of thought. The “lucky girl syndrome” is based on the belief that if you constantly affirm that you are a lucky person, to whom good things happen, that attitude will automatically attract successful events and good fortune, causing great things to happen to you like a promotion, be healthy, pass your exams or find love.
As the American psychologist Mark Travers points out in an article published in Psychology Today, “the people who promote this syndrome, mainly women, promise that blindly believing in your luck, without any concrete proof of its effectiveness, can cause great things to fall in your lap.” Now, while this positive attitude sounds good on the surface, it also has a downside: “This mindset can have significant negative effects on mental health, including chronic stress, self-doubt, and decreased self-esteem due to unrealistic expectations.” warns the expert.
The psychologist Mark Travers compiles in the aforementioned article three methods to avoid the dangers or secondary effects that the mentality of the “lucky girl syndrome” entails. In the first place, he advises setting realistic ambitions, since it is common for people who follow this trend to set ambitions and goals that are too unattainable. “Expecting brilliant things to happen to you all the time can blind you to your context, your abilities, and your energy levels,” he notes. Instead, he advocates setting meaningful goals, “instead of leaving it all up to the universe.”
Next, he defends the importance of not limiting ourselves to visualizing, but acting accordingly to achieve what we crave. “Visualizing can help clarify your vision, but it is through proactive and consistent steps that you turn your aspirations into reality,” he says, adding that “we can’t rely on luck all the time, especially if we’re not working.” .
Finally, it highlights the need to learn to accept the possibility of failure. “Accepting failure frees you from the crippling fear of judgment and criticism, and leaves room for growth, resilience, and the freedom to explore new avenues without fear of judgment,” he concludes.
