“Keep Your Fingers Crossed!” showed “activating good-luck-related superstitions via a common saying or action (e.g., “break a leg,” keeping one’s fingers crossed) or a lucky charm improves subsequent performance in golfing, motor dexterity, memory, and anagram games.” But it’s not because of magic. These actions give people confidence, which helps them perform better. (So wish your friends luck. It really does help.) This optimism also makes lucky people grittier and more likely to keep trying new things, which over time means even more good stuff happens to them. As long as what they do isn’t
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