Do you ever notice how older people tend to have a lot of wisdom? That’s because they’ve lived through so much and picked up a lot of lessons along the way. Some people say that there are lessons you can only learn through many years of living – but what if that wasn’t the case? What if you could be armed with that extra knowledge now?
Here Are 10 Things That Most People Take A Lifetime To Learn
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” —Mahatma Gandhi
1. Be Kind To Yourself
A lot of people strive to be perfect, even without realizing it. They berate themselves over every failure, always expect more out of themselves, and feel guilty for stopping to rest.
But we’re all human beings, and expecting flawlessness is unreasonable. You’re setting an unhealthy and unattainable standard for yourself, essentially dooming yourself to disappointment from the get-go!
Yes, it’s important always to strive to do your best. But that doesn’t mean you should shun the idea of being human. You need breaks, and you’ll experience failure every so often, and that’s okay!
- Learn to be gentle and kind to yourself, and find the beauty in the human experience.
- Take self-care days.
- Comfort yourself after upsets.
- Build yourself up with positive affirmations.
- Forgive yourself for your errors.
- Most importantly, be compassionate to yourself – you deserve that!
2. Don’t Overwork
Many people spend a lot of time chasing their dreams and hoping to hit it big. You might focus on furthering your career to the point where your entire life is consumed by the concept of chasing after an ever-elusive level of success.
Working hard is great, and it’s good that you have that worth ethic and drive. But make sure you aren’t overdoing it and neglecting all other aspects of your life because of it. Your career is important, but so is your family, your hobbies, and your quiet time for relaxation.
There is not a single person in the world who, on their deathbed, wishes that they’d clocked more hours at the office or worked a little more overtime. You’ll want to spend as much time with your loved ones as possible instead of squandering your time burning the midnight oil and missing family dinners.
3. Gratitude Is Key
It’s important to appreciate what you have. Many people make the mistake of concentrating so much on what they lack or what they wish they had that they forget how privileged they are.
There’s always something to be grateful for! Whether it’s being glad that you read something that could help you later on, being thankful for a good meal, or anything “minor” that’s good in your life, there’s no shortage of ways to be appreciative. Here are some ideas of areas you can be grateful for.
- Having a job that pays your bills
- Knowing that there are people who care about you
- Having a strong character that overcomes adversity
- Your bed, water, heating, electricity, and other small luxuries
- The good state of your health
- Good memories you have
- The lessons you’ve learned from a mistake
This kind of positive thinking isn’t just for show. It can make you happier and even allow you to have better success rates. Making it a daily practice can be tricky, but start small. End your day by naming three things you’re grateful for. Before you know it, you’ll find good things everywhere you look.
4. Failure Is A Lesson
If you don’t make mistakes, you’ll never learn or grow. Life is all about falling down and picking yourself back up again, even when it’s difficult and even when it’s the last thing you feel like you want to do.
Every single mistake and supposed failure makes you stronger. It arms you with new knowledge, makes you smarter and sharper, and ensures that you won’t make the same error again. You’re onto the next step in the staircase of life – and that’s a good thing!
- Don’t let a fear of failure stall your progress.
- Don’t allow it to pull you away from taking risks.
- Embrace each mistake and recount the lesson it has taught you; actively apply it in your life.
- Then, move on. Your mishaps shouldn’t weigh you down; they’re meant to teach you something and help you fly.
There is no correct way to succeed or clear path in that direction. Your best bet is forging your own path. In the process, you’re guaranteed to mess up. But if you react positively and keep learning and growing, you’ll soon find the success you seek.
5. Be Kind
Compassion is free, and there isn’t enough in the world. That’s why it’s important to take the time just to be kind to those around you, no matter who they are. Many people don’t learn this until they’re old and grey – so start now!
There’s something precious and wonderful in learning that giving is more important than receiving. Do so willingly, expecting nothing in return. Search for opportunities to be kind, such as:
- Smile at people as you walk by them.
- Give a gift to someone you care about.
- Compliment someone respectfully.
- Offer to pay for the meal of someone having a bad day.
It’s very easy to get swept up in bad news and think that the whole world is cruel and depressing. Doing kind things for others is a great way to make a small difference and improve positive thinking. After all, kindness begets kindness.
6. Live In The Present
A lot of us carry around emotional baggage from the past. You might dwell on old news, actively holding yourself back from looking forward to the future. Thinking of all your worries left behind is a sure way to ensure they always haunt you.
On the flip side, some people worry too much about the future. They constantly fret about making the wrong decision and winding up in a bad state because they didn’t plan enough. Their minds are always ahead, focusing on the unknown – something that can still take them by surprise.
- The secret to a more positive life is to live in the present.
- Worrying and dwelling are unproductive and stop you from living in the moment.
- It won’t be long before the moments you’re living now become a part of the past, too.
Learn to reflect on the past without dwelling on it, and look forward to the future without biting your nails. Focus on the moment that is happening now, the people around you, and where you are in life. It won’t last forever wherever you are, so enjoy it while you can!
7. Procrastination Will Drag You Down
We make a lot of jokes about procrastination, but did you know that this bad habit can mess up your chances of a better future? Is it that much easier to dawdle about and use the motivation of a last-minute panic to rush your work? Of course not!
This causes you to create less-than-stellar work. You’re not giving your best – you’re giving your minimum. And if you think what you create when you procrastinate is good enough, imagine what you can make with a little more time and effort!
Time is money, so you must know how to manage it correctly and positively. This will allow you to feel much more in control of your life. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can get done and the quality you can improve if you stop putting things off!
8. Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Many people have heard wisdom regarding how actions mean more than words, but few truly appreciate what that means. You believe other people’s promises and lies. You tell yourself false things, too, just to convince yourself of something that isn’t working out.
- Words can be comforting, but they don’t mean anything if the appropriate action doesn’t accompany them.
- Stop believing people’s words and start focusing on what they do.
- Stop telling yourself what you’ll do, and start doing it simultaneously!
9. Focus On The Journey, Not The Destination
We’ve talked about how living in the present is important. This is similar but crucial in ensuring positive thinking, better moods, and inner peace. A journey goes on. It is rarely stagnant or static. So if you are experiencing bad times, it’s important to know that they are only temporary like all other times.
At the same time, focus on loving the journey instead of placing importance on the end goal or final destination. Take your time as you go through it. You don’t have to be jogging or running along the way; stroll down the path and stop and smell the roses.
It can be daunting to think of the non-permanence of life and everything in it, but that can help you appreciate the present even more. Make the most of every step you take – it’ll pass you by soon enough!
10. Happiness Takes Hard Work
Many people seem to expect happiness to come to them naturally. Unfortunately, this simply is not how it works. The people you see around you who seem so happy and lighthearted have been through a lot of hard work to get there. They have worked on themselves and improved until they find happiness.
Happiness, for the most part, is a choice. You have to want it and be willing to work towards it to achieve it. You may have to let go of your pride or ego, and there are plenty of lessons you’ll likely have to learn along the way.
Life is all about improving and growing. Only through regular development and personal improvement can you find true happiness. So make the most of this one life you have!
Final Thoughts On Some Things That Take Most People A Lifetime To Learn
Life is complicated. It throws hurdles and stops in the directions of all those attempting to trudge through it. But when you’re equipped with these lessons that take most people a lifetime to learn, you might just be able to live to the fullest and make fewer mistakes along the way!
