Daily Inspiration
Learning is an interesting, yet complicated endeavor for us humans. It’s also idiosyncratic because people tend to learn things in different ways and, as a result, react differently to various forms of teaching. Years ago I used to teach learning theory to college students. In academia, your ability to learn and then answer questions about what you’ve learned is the key to progressing and getting good grades. One thing that I learned as a teacher was that the method used for recalling information often dictated how well certain students performed on tests.
As a general rule, some people tend to do better on one or the other of these two forms of testing in the classroom. Of course, lessons learned in life are a lot different than the lessons we learn in school.
If you’re no longer a student, think back to those old school days when you had to take exams in class. Were you the type of student that did best when you were asked to recall information, when prompted, and tended to like multiple choice tests best? Or did you prefer the less structured and more free-thinking form of recalling information that the essay test so readily allowed?
In most cases, we don’t get to study for those tests that life puts in front of us. Not to mention that the tests we get in life are more often than not unannounced and, therefore, don’t allow for any preparation at all. Yet we’re all challenged on a regular basis and, just like in school, some of us do better than others when we’re tested.
Of course, it’s important to be a good learner in school, but it’s absolutely critical to be a good learner in life – your happiness and contentment depend on it. Life, unlike school, doesn’t come with credentialed teachers who go out of their way to help you learn, offer private tutoring and are considerate of your feelings. Instead, the lessons we learn from life are gained from the experiences we have and are often painful, brutal and unconcerned about our feelings.
For example, take the young child who touches the hot stove after being told not to. Even after being warned, many children still find it necessary to test this dire warning, only to find out quickly why it’s a bad idea. Or take the person who, even after being warned by those who know, gets involved in a romantic relationship with someone who’s absolutely toxic for them. Again, just like the child with the stove, the pain could’ve been avoided if you listened to your friends.
However, the experience of the burned finger or fateful relationship isn’t wasted if you learn something that helps you avoid another similar problem in the future.
Unfortunately, we all know people who just don’t seem to learn from their mistakes and, as a result, continue to make the same mistakes repeatedly. And the truth is that the lessons that most help us learn to live happy, healthy and satisfying lives aren’t the ones taught inside the school classrooms. No, we learn them when we’re tested in the school of hard knocks.
So how about you? Are you a good learner in the school of life and, if so, what lessons have you learned… the hard way?
Wishing You Great Health,
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