We all look for that quick fix that will help us to be successful, and most of the time those “miracle pills” and instant successes leave us feeling like we’ve just run around in circles and accomplished nothing. While there is no cure-all that will make us immediately successful, there are a few small things that, if done consistently, can help us to have the mental fortitude to achieve greatness…or at least to be decent at what we do. This article, 12 Quiet Rituals of Successful People, will give you some to get started on.
The only one I would disagree with is #6 “turn to intuition when making tough decisions.” I suppose that could apply on occasion, like in deciding what to wear, or which lesson would best help your students, but in most major life decisions this is a bad idea. If your intuition tells you to, say, pick a particular romantic partner, and your family, friends, and family friends who have known you for a long time all think it’s a bad idea, it probably is! Most of the time your family and people who have known you for a long time will not intentionally try to steer you in the wrong direction, and will instead try to help you to what they think would most benefit you. Our society is far too emotion-driven; “if it feels good, do it.” Right? WRONG! Much pain could be avoided if people would think things through.
Instead of basing serious decisions on your feelings at the time, evaluate it logically and examine the consequences. Heck, make out a chart of pros and cons like you did in school. Examine the consequences it could have on your reputation, or financial stability, your family’s reputation, the life of your children (or future children), spiritual state, and your career. Chances are that if your buddies (who are all your same age) think something is a good idea, but your parents, rabbi, and older family friends say otherwise…you’d do better to listen to your indigestion than your intuition. Picking out an outfit, lesson, or new paint color? Go for it!
Adventures of a Music Teacher 