In recent years, countless voices have urged people to chase success with little effort. Many charismatic figures, often from Asian contexts, promise wealth, ideal relationships, and peak health if one follows their methods. Their playbook leans on popular psychology while masking it with esoteric techniques that require minimal action to reap big rewards.
Today, there is no shortage of self-proclaimed experts—tarologists, numerologists, astrologers, and others—who brand themselves with the label of psychologist. They want their followers to see them as trusted guides, even as their core claims remain unproven and overly simplified.
Some observers suspect these practitioners drift toward psychology’s name to gain credibility and appeal, hoping to seem wiser to those searching for a quick fix. The motive appears to be to render complicated paths into easy, digestible promises that feel magical rather than scientific.
For a straightforward look at two prevalent approaches to achieving success, this discussion examines them with a critical eye. It becomes clear that their appeal may mask risks and limitations worth noting.
Visualizing and drawing a wish map
This approach invites people to picture their goals with clarity as if those outcomes are already real. People imagine owning the car, the house, the ideal relationship, or a dream trip as if it has already happened. The technique encourages stepping into a vivid mental scene and holding onto that impression.
Some guides to success advocate making a “wish card” by collecting cutouts or photos of desired outcomes and arranging them on a large sheet. Others suggest blending a photo of a public figure with one’s own image using photo-editing tools. The idea is to surround oneself with a concrete visual cue that reinforces the dream, sometimes even visiting luxury stores or test-driving premium products to feel the experience in advance.
The logic presented is that frequent engagement with this mental image makes the path toward those goals feel more natural. Yet the core justification rests on faith rather than evidence, with the claim often reduced to allowing the universe to respond to one’s enthusiasm rather than to any measurable action.
Such visualization can blur the line between imagination and real progress. The brain’s chemistry shifts with anticipation—dopamine, endorphin, serotonin—so the imagined success can feel almost as rewarding as actual achievement. The risk lies in mistaking the thrill of anticipation for tangible results, potentially dampening motivation to take real steps when needed.
One may wonder: if the pleasure is already present, why exert effort at all? Real life carries risk—plans can falter, and outcomes can vary. In contrast, the visualization scenario offers a cozy, safe space where one can savor the dream without facing the rough edges of reality. Critics caution that this can erode genuine drive by substituting fantasy for practical work.
Affirmations
Affirmations involve repeating statements about oneself, loved ones, and life that may not reflect current reality but are believed to boost self-esteem. Repetition is meant to convince the mind that the desired state is true, with the expectation that belief will propel progress toward goals.
Typical examples claim personal attractiveness, universal acceptance, effortless living, and the power to overcome all obstacles. In psychology, such phrases are recognized as enthusiastic beliefs. When people become saturated with them, they can enter a manic-like state that distorts judgment about task difficulty and time requirements, creating an illusion of limitless power.
The danger is noticeable as belief climbs higher and reality intrudes more forcefully. Not every goal sits within one’s control, and negative emotions remain a normal part of life alongside the positive. The mosaic of living hours and days includes both bright pieces and darker ones, and removing the darker tiles can leave a broken picture.
What stands out is that many proponents of these quick paths have little real-world accomplishment beyond online classrooms or virtual challenges. In contrast, those truly successful in business, science, sport, or the arts devote significant time and effort to their craft, and rarely achieve greatness through shortcuts alone. Hard work, persistence, and prudent risk-taking tend to define lasting achievement.
Ultimately, maturity comes from recognizing the value of effort and steady progress over flashy, easy routes. The message here is not to dismiss ambition but to place it on a foundation built from experience, discipline, and realistic planning.
Notes reflect one perspective, and readers may encounter varied viewpoints from different editors or commentators.