Unquestionable Rule for Life #2
They say that life is a great teacher.
The problem with that is that most of us refuse to stop living long enough to learn what it has to teach us. However, we do not have to be six feet under to understand the meaning of life. Actually, we are already living the lessons life has to teach us.
Think about this: When we were infants and learning how to walk, we would stumble, we fall, we get back up again. Eventually, we quit stumbling, quit falling down, we stood up and started walking. Sure, we occasionally stumble and fall but for the most part we got this walking routine under control.
See life was teaching you and you were learning. However, along the way to where we are today, we seem to have forgotten that falling down (and getting back up) is part of life.
Growing, in school, we would be taught something and then tested (all the in the guise of checking to see what was retained) and sometimes we would pass the test and other times we would fail or miss passing by just that much. Either way, we continued with our federally mandated education.
Then as we got older, many of us would fall into one of the greatest con-games, ever. It is the “I got this” con. Seems that almost every time we would find ourselves at the bottom of a hypothetical “Burmese Tiger Trap” only to say those three words again and ultimately finding ourselves at the bottom of that trap, yet again. Sometimes, some of us, do not learn.
If you get the feeling that I am trying to tell you something, you are correct, my friend.
LEARN FROM FAILURE
While we have been subconsciously doing it all our lives, it is in our conscious state that most of us struggle with learning from failure. It is when our ego writes checks we cannot cash and soon enough, we find ourselves inside that pit. While once or twice is enough for most of us, there are those that just find themselves falling down over and over again, all because they “got this” and refuse to acknowledge that they, in fact, DO NOT GOT THIS!
So, what does this mean to them, to you, to all of us.
It means that we need to stop being stubborn and get on with our learning and growing.
WHAT IS A GROWTH MINDSET?
A growth mindset, to me means that one has accepted that life and the world continue to teach us and will teach us until the very end. Having a growth mindset means that we become lifelong learners. Being lifelong learners, we show others that just because we reach a certain in time and space does not mean that is all there is. There is so much left to see, do, and learn.
That being said, do not for one second think you cannot have a growth mindset or be a lifelong learner. There is really nothing to it than to set you ego aside by opening your eyes, opening your ears, opening your mind, and shutting your mouth. Doing that, will most definitely take you to a place of growth. A place of personal growth which ultimately leads to professional growth.
ALWAYS SEEK SELF-IMPROVEMENT
Let’s say you got started on your growth mindset journey, then what? A growth mindset is not a SHINY NEW OBJECT. A Growth Mindset should never be considered a passing fad or the jumping on the bandwagon of the latest trend. Having and Living with a Growth Mindset is beyond that. Having a growth mindset means you are in it for the long haul, hence lifelong learner.
This always means that you are always on the hunt to find and implement that which will add value to your life. That which improves and benefits your life. That which makes life better.
A word of advice, being a lifelong learner and having a growth mindset also means creating long lasting, sustainable change in your life. Yes, that means removing that which no longer serves your or keeps you tied to your past and refuses to let you grow. What I am saying is that as part of your growth there is no reason to keep the energy vampires within your sphere of control or concern (for that matter).
Cut the deadweight. Cut the negativity out of your life, even if it means cutting people out. Remember, that as you are trying to grow there will be those that will try to hold you back. Be cautious as those people will come in many forms. Some will be close and some will be strangers. Of course, strangers hold no currency in your life, but those that are close hold a certain amount of value (no matter who they or how close they are).
As mentioned earlier, we stumble, fall, and we get ourselves back up. OURSELVES. All by ourselves. Sure, they may have been there to change your diapers, feed you, clothe you but did they do all that with expectations of pay back? It may be bubble-bursting time as all that is the parent’s obligation of having a child. If you find that the expectation of pay back is the case you find yourself in, remember you are under no obligation to pick up the mess created by their careless, reckless behavior. So yes, that’s exactly what I mean, because they F-A, they will F-O.
If you have never encountered someone like that, be grateful because the most certainly exist. To re-iterate, it may be difficult to break away from those that bring negativity and dissent but to grow, you may have to cut the dead, rotting branches from your life. Yes, it is time to move on to a better place, a better world of your own making.
A final word or two; that if after all doing what it takes to growth you find yourself by yourself, then so be it. You have no choice. Always Remember to Be Your Own Cheerleader.
– Dave Guerra