11-Feb-2010

Be the Lesson

Experience is the Best Teacher

You have a treasure trove of experiences to draw from, which automatically means you have wisdom to share. Perhaps the greatest thing about being human is the chance to impart these gifts. The trick is to see the lessons the world is offering you.

Take a few minutes from your day to simply close your eyes and breathe. When something bugs you, when you can’t find your car keys or forget an appointment, notice the degree of your reaction. Ask yourself what else about the situation makes you so annoyed. Then ask what the lesson might be. Remain emotionally neutral until you see the moral of the story taking shape. Then bring your best, most mature qualities to bear. Accept the lesson and watch your relationship to the situation change. If you feel different, it’s for good reason: you’ve just become a little bit wiser. So now go out and share!

Recommended: God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours