Lucky Girl Syndrome

Elle Woods is an icon. She scored a 179 on the LSAT after a breakup with her longtime boyfriend, then went on to graduate from Harvard Law School with honors. Through trials and tribulations, Elle thrived, as she continued to be her authentic self and remained optimistic through it all. Elle’s positive mindset carried her through challenges in law school, relationships and her career. Some might say that Elle Woods had a case of “Lucky Girl Syndrome.”  

Lucky Girl Syndrome is a recent phenomenon that gained popularity on TikTok. The hashtag #LuckyGirlSyndrome has over 650 million views, with countless videos of creators sharing their experiences with the mantra and how it changed their everyday lives. A song entitled “Lucky Girl” by an artist named Carlina exemplifies the mindset of a Lucky Girl with lyrics stating, “I’m a lucky girl, And all good things Come to me, Flow to me, Move through me, Everything works out for me.” Creators use this song to showcase their self-improvement, which in some cases may be working out, receiving good grades, eating healthy or overall just enjoying the fruits of life’s labor.

Lucky Girl Syndrome gained traction at the beginning of 2023 when people shared their New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions often carry a negative connotation, as there is the shared belief that most people will not follow through with their goals. However, Lucky Girl Syndrome combats the stagnancy that often follows resolutions. The premise behind Lucky Girl Syndrome is improving one’s life through the practice of optimism and positive self-enforcement. A Lucky Girl embodies a growth mindset that consistently seeks self-improvement.

TikTok also experienced a boost in self-improvement content during the pandemic. Spiritual practices such as manifestation and the law of attraction gained traction on the app as users continued finding ways to improve their lives during quarantine. As manifestation and the law of attraction are often intertwined with the definition of Lucky Girl Syndrome, it remains important to note that these practices hold origins that go way back before the digital age.

Manifestation is the act of turning aspirations into reality through different belief systems. The law of attraction is the notion that specific beliefs bring specific outcomes. Manifestation and the law of attraction have been practiced for thousands of years and can be traced back to different religions and philosophers. Methods used to follow these spiritual practices include yoga, meditation and affirmations. Most of these Western practices of manifestation and the law of attraction are simply interpolations of Hindu culture, though the origins of these practices are not fully reflected in Western versions. 

Although Lucky Girl Syndrome is a term that is not meant to be limiting, it is important to note that there are societal implications preventing the term from easily applying to everyone.  Systemic inequalities and social injustices cannot be “manifested” away, the same way that disparities can’t be attracted based on the energy that one is putting out into the world. With that being said, Lucky Girl Syndrome is not a shield that blocks out all bad things. Life happens, and people adjust in the best ways they know how.

While positive thoughts are important, in order to fully embody being a Lucky Girl, one must put forth action. It’s not just thinking that you are lucky; it’s also important to commit to actions and form habits that will align with your beliefs. Believing is simply the starting point, but action is what carries you to the destination. 

The first way to become a Lucky Girl is to have a growth mindset. Having a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset promotes personal growth. A fixed mindset remains comfortable with complacency, believing that specific traits, habits or qualities are unchangeable. On the other hand, a growth mindset believes in improvement, and that challenges that arise are only for the betterment of personal growth. Remember, growth is not linear progress. Some days you may find yourself more consistent than others, but it is important to give yourself grace! 

Throughout your journey, remember to combat self-comparison, as comparison is the thief of all joy. Lucky Girl Syndrome started from social media, which is often a huge proponent in the promotion of self-esteem issues and insecurities among young adults. While social media has a huge impact on how people view society, it is critical to be aware that not everything you see online is real. Out of the millions of videos under #LuckyGirlSyndrome, think about how many of those creators edited out the days when they received job rejections or didn’t go to the gym or didn’t have clear skin. Most of the time, these videos show people at their best, rarely focusing on the challenges it takes to reach their goals. Simply put, comparison is silly, as most comparisons stem from a lack of knowledge of someone's true reality.

The next step to becoming a Lucky Girl is building good habits. James Eaton’s book “Atomic Habits” explains that habits should be “obvious, attractive, easy and satisfying.” Since being a Lucky Girl begins with having the right mindset, building habits around creating positive beliefs is a great way to start! Making this habit obvious could simply mean setting affirmations as reminders on your phone to carry positive thoughts throughout the day. Another way to make a habit obvious is to be intentional about placement and making it attractive. Create a vision board curated with pictures of who you want to become, and set it as your wallpaper on your computer or phone. Creating habits may sound strenuous, but developing habits becomes easier by meeting yourself where you are. If you are not in a place where you can practice affirmations, put together a playlist of your favorite songs that can be uplifting in down times. That way, if you are in a hard place, you are prepared with good energy that can keep you going. Finally, to make a habit satisfying is to simply find ways to enjoy what you are doing –– whatever it takes to be the best version of yourself. 

The most important step in becoming a Lucky Girl is to show up as your authentic self. Elle Woods’ journey to success was not easy. Her long-term boyfriend broke up with her because, in his own words, he “wanted someone more serious.” The idea that Elle was not serious simply stemmed from her personality and positive outlook on life. Oftentimes in society, women are trivialized and perceived as impractical for their optimism. Because of this, women tend to shrink themselves in order to accommodate the opinions of society. However, a person’s light should not be dimmed in order to make others feel comfortable.  

The beauty of Lucky Girl Syndrome is that it allows women the freedom of self-exploration through healthy practices. Truthfully, anybody can adhere to the Lucky Girl lifestyle because it is simply a self-growth journey. Remember to be patient and rid yourself of wasted worry. Jim Carrey once said, “Flowers don’t worry about how they’re going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light, and that’s what makes them beautiful.” As a Lucky Girl, always remember to slow down and smell the roses, as your time to bloom will soon come. 

Cover Photo by Brendan Antrosiglio