“I am a lucky girl.” “Only good things happen to me.” Or at least that’s what I’ve been telling myself ever since I came across TikTok’s latest viral hashtag, lucky girl syndromewhich has over 195 million views.
The concept is simple: tell yourself that you are lucky, so lucky that only good things happen to you. So all your dreams come true!
Okay, that might be overkill. However, thousands of people on TikTok posted videos about how this protest strategy has changed their lives, bringing them new opportunities they never expected. Manifestation is the concept of thinking things through being – by believing something enough, it will happen.
Although you may not be lucky enough to win the lottery, you can use this technique to change your beliefs and eliminate the negativity bias that no longer serves you. Here’s what to know about positive affirmations and how they can improve your self-esteem and improve your mental health.
Does Lucky Girl Syndrome Really Work?
Lucky Girl Syndrome is not a new concept. It is a system of positive affirmation and uses some of the principles used in cognitive behavioral therapy – which says that your thoughts, emotions and behaviors are all linked and influence each other.
CBT teaches that negative thinking can be learned and therefore changeable. All you have to do is accept that the negative interpretation of situations has an impact on your feelings and actions. Then, make an effort to approach things with a positive mindset. This is what Lucky Girl Syndrome exploits.
Telling yourself that you are lucky and only the best things happen to you, you start to feel more confident and happy. Then, as your perception changes, your behavior follows.
The catch is that you have to associate positive feelings with what you say. It is not enough to say it; you have to feel it. Attachment positive feelings about the information creates happy neural pathways in the brain, which ultimately leads to behavioral change. The stronger these neural pathways are, the easier it will be to feel happy and confident.
Studies have shown assertiveness has several mental health benefits:
- Boost confidence and self-esteem
- Make you feel in control
- Good mood and general happiness
- Reduce stress
- Increased motivation for solutions
- Improved memory
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Common positive affirmations to improve your mental health
You need to find an affirmation (or a list of affirmations) that works for you – not everyone is a lucky girl. Your affirmation can be anything. However, it’s best to make them as specific to you and your values as possible. Bumper sticker assertions are harder to make sense of.
Tips for creating your affirmation:
- Focus on positive language: You want your affirmations to be as empowering as possible. Instead of saying “I will not fail again”, say “I will succeed”.
- Use the present: Affirmations used in the present tense are more grounded and effective. For example, say “I am at peace” rather than “I will be at peace.”
- Be brief and precise: A good affirmation is short and sweet. Try to make your statement as concise as possible.
4 ways to use positive affirmations for mental health
Let’s talk about how to make affirmations work for you. Remember, they aren’t magic and won’t solve every situation. However, they are a useful tool to get through difficult times and boost your happiness.
Practice using them
Once you have found the affirmations you want to use, be intentional to think positively while you say them. They won’t mean anything if you just say them, associating positive feelings with them is essential.
Practicing daily affirmations can be a little weird at first, but stick with it. If you don’t want to look in the mirror and say them out loud, try repeating them in your head or write them down on a post-it note that you are looking at. Some even use voice memos that they can listen to.
Try saying your affirmations when you get up and fall asleep to begin with. Then start using them more often as you feel more comfortable.
To be realistic
Affirmations can boost your confidence and help you lead a happier life, although it doesn’t happen overnight. You should expect this to be a process, and your affirmations should reflect that. Focus on your growth, not the outcome, to avoid disappointment and burnout.
Limiting your affirmations to one goal at a time is also a good idea. This way you submerge yourself with too much to do.
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Combine affirmations with other self-help strategies
As we mentioned, affirmations don’t mean much without positive thinking. However, you can add other self-help strategies to reinforce your assertions. Use goal setting and visualization to refine your affirmations and ensure they are helping you on your wellness journey.
Plus, you can practice your affirmations while you use breathing exercises to go to the next level. Breathing has been shown to reduce anxiety and improve cognitive function. You can also add affirmations to your meditation sessions.
Don’t Fall Into Toxic Positivity
This may be where some people take Lucky Girl Syndrome a bit too far. Affirmations should never cause you to deny reality. It’s not a healthy way to cope.
Make sure your affirmations acknowledge your situation and allow you to navigate it. Avoiding negative feelings does not address them. Affirmations only work if you can believe them and find meaning in them. If you don’t, you’ll bombard yourself with toxic positivity that could make you worse.
Too long; did not read?
Lucky Girl Syndrome is not just a trend; it’s also known as an affirmation by anyone not on TikTok. Affirmations are a valuable wellness tool for reframe your thinking, feelings and behaviors. No, these are not magical wishes, but they are small things that can make a big difference in your self-esteem. and happiness.
Remember, be as specific as possible in your affirmations, keep them short, and stick to them.
The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical or health advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.