“This is how it’s supposed to work: Tell yourself that everything works out for you. The universe is rigged in your favour. You are the luckiest person.
You have Lucky Girl Syndrome.” – Riyah Collins, Lucky Girl Syndrome: Smug TikTok trend or life-changing positivity?, BBC
As someone who eschews positivity trends, doesn’t believe in personality tests, and mostly uses social media for my job, I rolled my eyes at Lucky Girl Syndrome when it started to trend in 2022. However, as a marketing professional, I was captivated by the concept. In the simplest terms, it recycles the concept of affirmations.
And it works, kind of.
As the BBC article explains, Lucky Girl Syndrome brings together the Law of Assumption with confirmation bias to make an individual feel like things are working out in their favor.
“Dr Carolyne Keenan is a psychologist who’s been looking into the lucky girl trend. While she believes positive thinking is beneficial, she does have some concerns. Carolyne says Lucky Girl Syndrome is based on an idea known as the law of assumption, which states that you can make real what you imagine for yourself.
“There are going to be, unfortunately, some situations in life that we are not able to manifest and think our way out of,” she says.
“I would be concerned about people being in situations where maybe that’s not going to be an effective strategy.”
It’s a thought critics of Lucky Girl Syndrome agree with. Users online have reported blaming themselves when positive thinking couldn’t help a sick relative or cure long-term health conditions. And Carolyne points out that humans are quite good at kidding ourselves when we want something to be true.” – Riyah Collins, Lucky Girl Syndrome: Smug TikTok trend or life-changing positivity?, BBC
The Law of Assumption is the belief that your imagination creates your reality. If you imagine your desires, you can manifest them into real life. Essentially, you assume you already have what you want. Instead of longing for your dream, imagine what it would feel like to live it. Believers tell themselves that they are guaranteed the best possible outcome. They tend to use affirmations to boost self-confidence.
Confirmation bias follows up on this because it makes you actively search for validation.
Psychics have a similar appeal. Someone tells you that you’ll get something that you want. You seek it out. And when an event appears to validate your desires, you attribute it to the psychic’s knowledge.
Lucky Girl Syndrome works similarly. People long for a certain life. They focus on it through affirmations and a belief that things will work out. When good things happen, you feel like it’s because you’re embracing the Lucky Girl mindset..
Mysticism aside, a lot of people do feel better when they look for positive things around them — whether from religion or an individualized belief system. It’s comforting to feel like you have some control over the universe and that there a higher power (god, fate, luck) works in your favor.
Lucky Girl Mindset
In today’s fast-paced world, where stress and negativity seems to lurk around every corner, the Lucky Girl Mindset trend feels like a breath of fresh air. This empowering movement encourages individuals to shift their focus from what they lack to what they are grateful for. It fosters a sense of abundance and positivity in their lives. By embracing this mindset, individuals believe they can attract more luck, success, and happiness into their lives.
However, many life coaches (and sensible people) can see the drawbacks.
“Lucky girl syndrome ignores the fact that life is not fair. And it ignores that some people are more privileged than others. It doesn’t take into account the systemic and structural biases and inequalities that exist in the world.
It also doesn’t allow for negative emotions or feelings — which are part of life. Trying to ignore negative feelings isn’t very self-compassionate, and while it might seem to work in the short term, those feelings are going to come back to bite us in the long term. Lucky girl syndrome has a lot in common with toxic positivity. If you try it, and it doesn’t work for you, it could become yet another stick to beat yourself with. If you already feel vulnerable or wobbly, this could well be something else that makes you feel bad about yourself.
There’s a lot of evidence to show that positive thinking on its own has its limits. Taking on a positive mindset can help you take actions to improve your life, but it’s not going to pay your mortgage or get you a promotion on its own. Bad things happen to good people. And not everyone has the same access to resources or opportunities.” – What is ‘lucky girl syndrome’ and does it actually work? Harper’s Bazaar
The core of the Lucky Girl Mindset trend believes that luck comes from mindset and perspective. Those who adopt this mindset are more likely to notice and appreciate the little blessings in their lives. This leads to a more optimistic outlook and a greater sense of fulfillment. By practicing gratitude, setting positive intentions, and believing in the power of positivity, individuals can cultivate a mindset that attracts good fortune and opportunities.
By choosing to focus on the good in your life, practicing gratitude daily, and believing in your own power to create luck, Lucky Girls feel they are a magnet for all things wonderful and fulfilling.
Personally, I don’t believe in luck. But, am a huge proponent of resilience.
I define resilience as my ability to bounce back from difficult situations. If I am faced with something hard, I balance the list of everything that could go bad and everything that could go perfectly. Then, I ask myself to imagine a realistic middle-ground scenario. I prepare myself for that and look for ways to bolster myself through it.
I empower myself with the mindset that I am strong enough to return “back to form.”
Peony Flower Meaning
Studying flower meanings has allowed me to bring empowering, seasonal reminders into my life. I don’t believe that flowers have any power to manifest change in my life. I like them as symbolic reminders of what I’m pursuing.
So, if I’m trying to embrace a positive “lucky” mindset, I enjoy peonies as a way to encourage myself. Things may not work out perfectly in my favor but, they might be alright.
Peony flowers are not just stunning blooms. They also carry a wealth of symbolism and cultural significance. Various cultures associate the peony with prosperity, good fortune, and honor. For example, in Chinese culture, the peony is known as the “king of flowers” and symbolizes wealth and nobility. The Japanese view peonies as a symbol of good fortune and bravery. In Western cultures, peonies are often linked to romance, prosperity, and bashfulness.
Beyond their cultural symbolism, peonies also hold significance in different contexts. In the language of flowers, known as floriography, peonies can represent various emotions and traits. The lush, full blooms of peonies are often associated with beauty, romance, and prosperity. Additionally, peonies are also linked to healing, compassion, and a happy marriage. Whether used in floral arrangements, wedding bouquets, or as a tattoo design, peonies continue to captivate and inspire with their rich symbolism and timeless beauty.
They’re the perfect choice to display in an office or bedroom — somewhere you might need encouragement and ambition during the day.
More about Flower Symbolism
If you enjoyed this post, you should explore more of the birth month flowers. I spent a whole year studying them and creating sketches for each one. I post about them monthly on my Instagram account @verdera.me. Join me and other nature lovers there.
