You’ve got to be kidding… lucky charms and superstitious rituals actually work?

In this Self-Coaching episode, I discuss the improbable truth that lucky charms, rituals and various superstitions can actually have a beneficial effect on our behavior, health, and attitude. But how can this be? We know that superstitions or the belief that an object or behavior has the power to influence an outcome is, well, not logical. Yet, researchers have found that people who have luck on their side feel greater self-efficacy (i.e., the ability to believe and trust ourselves to handle life)—and this belief actually enhances both mental and physical performance.

Seriously, maybe you should hold on to that rabbit’s foot, a horse shoe, or a four-leaf clover.