The Power of Habits
Habits are an integral part of our existence, and you’re probably aware of it. Our days are filled with various types of habits. We build habits for eating, brushing our teeth, choosing our outfits, and countless smaller things that we create. Habits facilitate our decision-making, so we put these habits on autopilot to make life easier.
If you are aware of Cumorah Academy’s mission and purpose, you probably already know that we cover a myriad of topics in our Leadership Classes, and “Habits for Success” is one of them. Yes, some habits pave the way for success. The influence of habits extends far beyond eating and brushing your teeth. You might have a habit of looking down on yourself, even unconsciously, or procrastinating.
Caryn and Michael Peterson’s goal for this week, as our new mentors, was to teach the students the importance of habits for success and diligence. The Petersons used their personal experiences and were open-minded to new ideas as they immersed themselves in this week at our campus.
Meet the Petersons
Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Michael attended the University of Utah and holds degrees in finance and political science. He has practiced law for almost 16 years and has been a Superior Court judge for almost nine years. Caryn was born in Boulder, Colorado, and raised in Tucson, Arizona. She attended Eastern Arizona College and later transferred to Southern Utah University. They formed an incredible partnership, with Caryn supporting her husband as he completed his studies. She will be starting her bachelor’s degree in the fall. Yes, the Petersons love studying.
Despite all their experience and maturity, they are very humble about their achievements, especially when it comes to habits for success. Caryn says there is always room for improvement: “I wouldn’t say we are experts on habits,” she notes. However, Michael brought a copy of James Clear’s “Atomic Habits,” a huge bestseller, so they could learn more about it while on campus. “We picked the dates we could come to Cumorah and decided we were going to learn about habits,” concludes Caryn.
Small decisions lead to greater importance, and through small actions, this couple came to Cumorah Academy. “Our daughter Charlotte was here last year as one of the English language interns and just absolutely loved it and couldn’t say enough good about it,” says the couple. “She felt this was where she should be, felt purposeful, engaged, and just spent those months of her summer in a really meaningful way. She mentioned to Patrick that we might be interested in being mentors. We met with him, he asked us to come out, and the rest is history.”
Reflecting on a Week of Learning
After a week full of amazing classes, it is now time to say goodbye. It is natural to reflect on the outcomes of our collective efforts. Caryn and Michael reflected on what they learned from our students and what they hoped the students had learned. “By the very definition of our humanity, we can always improve in something that we’re doing, though some are at a very high level. But I hope to do better in my habits, understand success better, and include Heavenly Father in that process,” says Michael. Caryn agreed with her husband’s thoughts. “I agree with all of that. What I want to do is just continue to improve my ability to be deliberate in how I live my life,” she says.
Michael expressed a sentiment that perfectly represents part of Cumorah Academy’s mission. We can always improve in something that we’re doing. By changing their very habits, our students will eventually change their destinies. As stated by the Apostle Paul to the Galatians: “For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). Whatever our students sow, they will reap. They are our precious treasure, and we work so they might build a brighter future for themselves and us.
They shared a little of their experiences with us. You can watch below:
Written by Fernando L. Ferreira Jr.
Photos by Camila Caraveo
Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer
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