‘Lucky Girl Syndrome’ Is Trending on TikTok, But Is It Doing More Harm Than Good?

Is luck something you’re born with, or is it something that can be acquired through positive thinking? According to hopeful TikTokers, luck can be manifested into being. You just have to believe you are lucky, stick to that belief and the rest will follow. Dubbed ‘Lucky Girl Syndrome,’ this TikTok trend is essentially a spin-off of The Secret, the 2006 film-turned-book about the law of attraction, which claims that thought alone can influence circumstances within one’s life. Or to put it in even simpler terms, “What you think about, you bring about.”

Borrowing from that logic, those who subscribe to ‘Lucky Girl Syndrome’ suggest that thinking about how lucky you are, telling yourself you are lucky and believing you are lucky will bring actual good fortune into your life.

Unsurprisingly, there's some criticism of this trend because it suggests that anyone can use the power of positive thinking to change their life or circumstances. Clearly, this doesn’t account for the systemic inequities and privilege gaps that exist within our society. When you consider that, it’s a bit glib to suggest to someone who has fallen on hard times that their tide will turn if they simply believe it enough. Other critics say ‘Lucky Girl Syndrome’ promotes toxic positivity, as it doesn’t allow much room for negative thoughts or feelings.

Valid criticisms aside, as far as the Wild Wild West of TikTok fads go, this one seems fairly innocuous on the whole. If repeating daily affirmations like “Everything is working out for me,” or “Good things are happening in my life” helps you through a rough patch, then affirm away. Perhaps it’s just the self-talk you need right now.

But if this all of this sounds a bit hokey to you, there are other ways of tapping into some of the core tenets of ‘Lucky Girl Syndrome’ that are more actionable, like the idea of increasing your “luck horizon.”