This is a blogpost based on one of my newest podcast episodes about manifestation and lucky girl syndrome. Available on all streaming apps.
So let’s start with the basics. Lucky Girl Syndrome is the viral trend where (mostly women) repeat affirmations like “I’m so lucky, everything always works out for me.” It’s part of a bigger wave of manifestation culture where mindset = reality.
TikTokers like @lauragalebe and @katerinaseigel have racked up millions of views sharing how this mindset “magically” changed their lives—from job offers to free trips to better relationships.
💬 According to a 2023 article from Bustle, “Lucky Girl Syndrome is rooted in cognitive reframing, where the brain is trained to perceive neutral events as positive, thus increasing perceived well-being,even when external circumstances haven’t changed.”
I absolutely believe in lucky girl syndrome: i am big on prayer and manifestation
I believe in writing your dreams into reality- if you write them down it makes them real. It’s like doing witchcraft. Also prayer and talking with God or your higher power. I also do vision boards- one big one yearly with all of my friends and one monthly one that I use as the background on my phone. I have manifested many things into existence, I remember exactly where I was when I manifested my husband, crying while sitting on the ground at a drive in movie theater. I have manifested my friends, my home, my grad school of choice, good grades, lower blood pressure, more money in my bank account and weight loss. I also believe in using apps like calm and others to use as activations.
This is where psychology actually backs up some of the hype. There’s a concept called self-fulfilling prophecy—when you believe something will happen, you unconsciously act in ways that make it more likely.
🧠Robert Merton, a sociologist who coined the term in 1948, explained that “a false belief can become true if it causes people to act in ways that bring about that belief.”
And it’s not just old-school theory. A 2022 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that positive expectations significantly increased performance and motivation - even when participants didn’t consciously realize they were being influenced.
But is that enough?
I believe not only do you have to manifest the little things, but the big items as well! You guys would be flabbergasted by the things I write in my journals when I am manifesting. These aren’t just statements like “I will lose 5 pounds” “I will get my dream job”. There are crazy and outlandish statements and straight up delusional stories that seem like they couldn’t even happen in another lifetime, but you know what? They ALWAYS eventually come true. I dare you right now, pull out your phone, open your notes app and type in one crazy borderline delusional thing you have been trying to manifest for years. Use a cute font and colors that are shown to invite positivity and growth like greens and pinks. Maybe not this month or the next or even this year will it fully happen- BUT what WILL happen is that you will start to go through the steps of making that reality come true. It will happen even faster if you open that notes app once and day and read over your manifestations. For example: let’s say you wrote “I want to one day be a singer/songwriter and play Coachella” today in your manifestation notes. If you keep looking at that or rewriting it everyday- you might not make it to Coachella in a year but will it happen? You will start to remember that you need to play the guitar more so I will instinctively reach for it in your free time. You will remember you want to be a song writer so you will start to view the world and what happens to you in the form of storytelling and poetry and you will start to write more things that resemble songs. You will eventually start to play for other people and then maybe local gigs… do you see the difference? The act of manifesting is going through the baby steps. The act of manifesting is reminding yourself of your goals daily. The act of manifesting is committing your dreams to paper and transferring that energy which in a way is like magic or witchcraft. The act of manifesting is praying daily for your higher power to bring you closer to your goals and what is truly meant for you. Manifesting isn’t just thought. It’s action.
Let’s not sugarcoat it- mindset work has a dark side. When we ignore pain, struggle, or trauma in favor of relentless positivity, we fall into the trap of toxic positivity.
💬 As Dr. Susan David, Harvard psychologist and author of Emotional Agility, puts it: “Being positive has become a new form of moral correctness. But denying emotions doesn’t make us more resilient—it makes us less so.”
And for folks living with depression, anxiety, or chronic hardship, being told to “just think lucky” can feel…well, gaslight-y.
Toxic positivity: let’s talk about it. Sometimes we just need to vent. Sometimes we just need another person to acknowledge, “hey that really sucks” or “hey I see you and hear and I’m sorry”. Offering up immediate solutions when someone is in the midst of a breakdown has never worked well with me. I believe in waiting a day. Give it a night’s sleep. Let yourself calm down. Then start brainstorming solutions. Manifesting does not equal turning every bad thing immediately into a good thing. It’s also honoring your emotions and feelings. Giving yourself time to grieve and giving yourself grace.
Let’s review: it’s not either/or. Belief is powerful—but it’s not magic. You still have to do the work.
📚 In an article from Psychology Toda Dr. Tchiki Davis writes: “Mindset shifts must be paired with intentional behavior. Affirmations alone don’t change outcomes—but they can spark motivation to make meaningful moves.”
So yes—say the mantra. Write the affirmations. But also? Apply for the job. Set boundaries. Rest. Take the meds if you need them. Manifestation without action is just wishful thinking.
There’s no denying some people do get results from Lucky Girl Syndrome. But let’s be real- it’s often paired with privilege, timing, and other unspoken advantages.
💬 Refinery29 did a piece in 2024 exploring the trend and noted: “Most viral stories of ‘manifested’ success come from white, conventionally attractive women with high social capital.”
So if it’s not working for you? You’re not broken. You’re human. Life is nuanced and your worth isn’t measured by your “vibe.”
But I believe in giving yourself multiple goals at once. If you are only manifesting one thing only, you may be disappointed. Why? Because maybe that one thing is not meant for you personally. Maybe that's not what the universe has in store for you. Think of your top 5 major dreams and work little by little on each of those. I still think that you can absolutely achieve all 5 of those things but maybe you are meant to only achieve goal 3 and goal 1 right now in this season of your life. Goal 2 and 5 maybe in a couple years. Goal 4 may be something that you will finally fully manifest in 5 years but one thing is for damn sure, you will remember when you first started to dream it and it will feel even more amazing the longer it takes.
So here’s what I want you to remember: You are not one perfect thought away from being lovable, successful, or enough.
Affirm what you want. Believe in possibility. But don’t let the trend convince you that your value is tied to your ability to smile through the storm.
Whether things are falling into place right now or falling apart and you’re still worthy of softness, rest, and hope.
I truly believe it is God’s intention to bless each of us. God’s will for us is personal and tailored to our needs. If we don’t get exactly what we ask for I also believe that it’s important that we understand that isn’t God’s will and the universe has so much more planned for you then you could ever dream.
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