So now that your bar exam prep is well under way, I'm sure you're hearing these two words a lot: good luck. I found myself attaching a 'good luck' to the ends of all my sentences to my bar-exam-taking friends. I heard those two words constantly orbiting them, and it got me thinking: How does luck play out in the real world?
Apparently, there is something to good luck charms and superstitions. The University of Cologne in Germany did a study this past May to test the effects of believing in luck. The results showed that to some extent, the superstitions do work. Believing in the power of a good luck charm can actually help improve performance in certain situations! So, I decided to make a list of good luck charms and superstitions in case you'd like to try some of them out in the next few weeks!
- Crossing your fingers
- Knocking on wood
- A robin flying into the house
- Sneezing 3 times before breakfast
- Meeting 3 sheep (I'm not making this up)
- Looking at the new moon over your right shoulder
- A 4-leaf clover
- Spilling wine while proposing a toast
- A horseshoe
- Peacock feathers
- Cutting your hair during a storm
- Avoiding cracks on the sidewalk
- A ladybug
- Carrying an acorn on your person
- Picking up a penny that is heads up
Alright, I did some research, you can buy ladybugs at Home Depot. You might be able to find a robin at a nearby bird show. Plea your case to the robin-breeder and he or she might let you borrow it so it can fly into your house. Have a few friends sprinkle heads up pennies in a 10-foot radius of you. Maybe run through a park and knock on all the trees, have some wine with dinner and propose something. I am not really sure where you can find sheep, and I don't think there are any storms 'a-brewin' but, you catch my drift.
Whatever it is, if you have a routine or charm for good luck, stick with it and believe during your bar exam prep. These beliefs have been shown to increase your belief in your own abilities and talents. Don't shun any option. Welcome whatever superstition induced-confidence you can muster!
Happy Studying! And good luck!