The Thought Box

Superstitions: A Part of Me

—

by

Neha
in

Oh, absolutely! I am very much superstitious. Being from India, superstition is almost woven into the fabric of daily life. It’s not just about personal beliefs, it’s a societal thing. Growing up, I was constantly surrounded by all kinds of superstitions, whether it was my parents warning me not to sweep the floor in the evening (because it might sweep away wealth) or being told to avoid cutting nails after sunset. Some of these beliefs were passed down so naturally that they just became a part of my thinking before I even realized it.

In India, superstitions are everywhere, whether in festivals, rituals, or just everyday habits. People consider certain days lucky or unlucky, certain numbers auspicious, and even certain animals as messengers of omens. If a black cat crosses the road, many would rather wait or take a different route than risk bad luck. And honestly? Even though I logically understand that a cat is just a cat, I still feel that hesitation deep inside. That’s how powerful these beliefs can be when you grow up with them.

My parents, like many others, have their own set of beliefs they strongly hold onto. They would often say things like, “Don’t start anything new on a Saturday” or “If your right eye twitches, something good will happen.” And when you keep hearing these things from childhood, they just get embedded in your mind. Even now, as an adult, I find myself unconsciously following certain superstitions, even when I know there’s no scientific basis for them. It’s not just about logic, it’s also about habit, culture, and sometimes even comfort.

Honestly, there’s something fascinating about it, too. Superstitions, in a way, connect us to our roots, to traditions, and to a belief system that has existed for generations. Whether they are true or not, they shape the way we perceive luck, fate, and even the unknown. So yes, I am very much superstitious, sometimes knowingly, sometimes unknowingly, but always with the deep influence of the culture I grew up in. 😊

Daily writing prompt
Are you superstitious?
View all responses

Comments

7 responses to “Superstitions: A Part of Me”

  1. Loku Avatar
    Loku

    “If a black cat crosses the road, many would rather wait or take a different route than risk bad luck.”

    What about a black car or a black bike?🤔😂😂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Neha Avatar
      Neha

      Well, if a black car crosses your path, just hope it’s not speeding! That’s the real bad luck. 🚗💨😂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Loku Avatar
        Loku

        Haan. Nhi toh Pune Porsche Case ho jaayega

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Loku Avatar
    Loku

    Toh here I’m reflecting on the title of your blog. I was doing PG, last year.

    At hostel I had a box on my table. I named it “The Thoughtful Box”— it had some “one liners” which explained some small activities, to stop me from overthinking, self doubts and rumination.

    Are you interested in Psychology? A Psychologist student or just an enthusiast?
    I also find Psychology interesting.
    Though I didn’t enjoy it much when I studied it as an ancillary subject during UG.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Neha Avatar
      Neha

      Oh wow, ‘The Thoughtful Box’ sounds like a mindfulness treasure chest! If I had one, it would probably remind me to stop analyzing why I overanalyze. 😂 And yep, psychology is my jam, I’m a research scholar in the field. What part of psychology did you like the most?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Loku Avatar
        Loku

        I’m a wanna be Research Scholar. My subject is History.

        Understanding and predicting human behaviour.
        I have a friend who faces some serious mental health issues. To help them I started reading and researching mental health topics based articles, opinions, and treatment strategies.

        I remember studying Educational Psychology (from Applied Psychology). I am interested in knowing and understanding the learning process.
        My memory is not very good (find it difficult to remember names & dates in History). But I do think a lot (24×7) — which’s not good.
        I’m an overthinker!

        Suggest me some readings. Or suggest later when you are free.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Neha Avatar
        Neha

        That’s really commendable, learning about mental health to support your friend shows a lot of empathy and dedication. Psychology and history actually have an interesting overlap when it comes to understanding human behavior over time.

        For overthinking, mindfulness-based approaches can be really helpful. You might find ‘The Happiness Trap’ by Russ Harris useful, as it focuses on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Since you’re interested in the learning process, I’d recommend ‘Make It Stick’ by Peter Brown, it’s a well-researched book on effective learning strategies.

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a reply to Neha Cancel reply