Throughout life we gain insight through our own experiences and meaningful interchanges with people who cross our paths. Taking advantage of our own personal "life school" is a never ending chance for lifelong learning. Every day we are offered many opportunities, like gifts waiting to be unwrapped, that show us how to increase our happiness, improve our relationships, or propel us into having a more purposeful existence. But we have to suit up and show up to even realize those precious gifts are there for the taking. By being awake with an open heart and open mind we can more fully accept what the universe offers us. Sleepwalking through life with robotic reactions to everything that pulls and pushes us is a sure fire way to become stagnant and dull. Being stuck in our beliefs and thought patterns is another common inhibitor that causes us to be held back. Curiosity and being open to the endless possibilities, and evolving along with experience, is the foundation to building a well lived life.
Along our paths and throughout our lives we meet and are influenced by hundreds of people. Some inspire and motivate us with their generosity, brilliance, friendships, kindness, good example, etc. We cherish the impact these people have on us. On the other end of the continuum, are those who have taught us how not to be. These examples imprint on us with such force that we firmly commit, at a very deep level, to NEVER be like them! The difficult lessons are sometimes the strongest and result in a formidable determination that is admirable. We celebrate those who successfully graduate, with honors, from the school of hard knocks.
Take a moment to reflect on the most significant lessons that have influenced you on how to be your best self. Can you distill all those lessons down to a couple of statements that encapsulate the complexities of what you have learned thus far on your life journey? Not an easy task but a worth while endeavor to invest some time and energy to see where it leads you.
Thinking about it a different way may help prioritize what rises to the top as most important. If you could share some of your vastly accumulated wisdom with loved ones moments before you departed this world, what would you say to them?
Let's share the wisdom. I'd love to hear your responses to these questions. You can share your most important life lessons here.
