People who change their path when they see a black cat, believe their exam will go badly if they don’t use their lucky pen, perform rituals to win a match, or hang charms everywhere to avoid the evil eye… Maybe you are one of them.
We all sometimes want to believe in things that science cannot explain. But why? Why do we keep believing even when we know some things are not logical?
Being Rational Is Nice, But a Little Magic Doesn’t Hurt
No matter how much we plan, things sometimes go wrong. Our mind wants to step in and find an explanation because it hates uncertainty. We want the events in our life to have a reason and life to be controllable. No matter how rational we are, life can feel complicated, and to understand this confusion, we sometimes rely on small “magics.”
Believing that repeating something three times will make it happen, wearing a bracelet we think is lucky, listening to a song in the morning that we believe brings good luck… Actually, none of these directly affect the result. But they make us feel good.
Because for our mind, doing something is better than doing nothing.
In psychology, this is called the “illusion of control.” Even if there is no real control, we feel like there is.
Sometimes this feeling is stronger than real control.
In an experiment by Dr. Ellen Langer, people thought lottery tickets they chose themselves were more valuable than the ones given randomly. This small detail tells us a big truth: The illusion of control, though it seems like a tiny feeling, is a delicate reflection of our deep desire to hold onto the future.
Whispers of the Century: Superstitions Passed from Generation to Generation
Most superstitions are learned from our surroundings before we fully understand what is happening.
We remember our grandmother saying “knock on wood three times or it will bring bad luck” when we were kids. Or a friend saying “make a wish when you see a shooting star.” These words seem strange at first but become normal over time.
Because these beliefs belong not only to individuals but to society as a whole.
If everyone around you believes in something similar, you start accepting it without questioning.
It may not make sense, but part of you thinks “there’s no harm in it.” At this point, it is not just habit but also the desire to belong.
If everyone does something, not doing it can feel strange. To fit in, avoid being excluded, and say “I am one of you,” we hold on to these small rituals.
This explains why superstitions pass so easily from generation to generation.
They are not just told but lived.
They find a place in daily life, in conversations, house rules, and holiday visits. Because they feel so familiar, they often go unquestioned.
They continue not because they belong to us, but because we feel we belong to them.
Are Superstitions Completely Bad?
Actually, no. Superstitions often consist of harmless, innocent habits.
They are also known to have some psychological benefits.
Small rituals can reduce anxiety, help cope with stress, and motivate a person.
But what if we cross the line?
If we make decisions only based on these beliefs, reject scientific explanations, distort reality, refuse treatment for serious health problems, or give our decisions over to our beliefs,
and exclude people by labeling them “unlucky” or having “negative energy,”
then these beliefs can lead us into mental slavery.
Also, excessive superstition can cause anxiety and obsessions and negatively affect social relationships.
The important thing is that superstitions do not reduce the quality of life and are limited by realistic expectations.
Not in Luck, But in Yourself…
In essence, superstitions are silent defenses the mind creates against uncertainty.
A part of us knows that charms do not stop bad luck and lucky pens do not bring success.
But we still hold on to them because sometimes for something to work, it does not have to be real, just believable.
These beliefs carry traces of both our personal fragility and our cultural heritage.
What matters is not letting these traces guide us but allowing them to accompany us.
Because what makes life meaningful is not only logic but also those small, unexplainable feelings.
But it must be remembered: although superstitions give us short-term peace,
true confidence comes from within.
Believing not in luck, but in yourself, is the strongest magic.