Life Skills: Keep Learning

I don’t know why I didn’t know this.

Looking back, I can see that it’s one of the most important things I coulda-shoulda-woulda done … if I’d known.
Unfortunately, I didn’t really comprehend it for about two decades.

We seem to think that a college (or high school) diploma represents the end of learning. After we get that all-important piece of paper, we pack up the books, get a J-O-B, and get on with living our lives. There’s nothing more to learn, after all.

Yeah, there might be some specific job-related skills we need to know. Maybe even something related to a special interest we have. Like learning to tie flies for fishing, or how to macramé or cook. “But I don’t need to S-T-U-D-Y, anymore, right?”

Wrong. By the time I finally realized that I needed to improve ME, I was a wife, mother, and business manager. I was competent at my job, OK as a mother, and a good wife … but an incomplete person. I had ceased to grow myself.

One of Nature’s immutable laws is: if it’s not growing, it’s rotting. And my mind and spirit were doing just that. Yours may be, too. The difficult part was that I didn’t understand why I was so dissatisfied and unhappy with my life. I had ‘everything’ anyone could want, but it wasn’t enough.

Then, through a series of events that can only be described as Spirit-led, I found out about growing myself through books, tapes, seminars and study courses. Forget my competence at work, my contentment with family. Now I was improving myself … and it felt wonderful.

There are books and trainings for every conceivable part of your psyche. You can learn better public speaking skills, improve your parenting skills, and grow your mind with inspirational materials. Every book I read brought expanded understanding and greater self-esteem. It can do the same for you.

Never quit learning. Here’s how:

• Set yourself a goal to read one self-improvement or inspirational book every month … or every week, if you can.
• Start a journal. Record the things you learn, the insights you receive, the inspirations that touch your heart.
• If you spend time on the computer, use 10-15 minutes daily to explore a site that inspires you in some way.
• Listen to music that moves you and leads you into quiet thought. The time you spend in contemplation is valuable.
• Read your Bible or something that elevates your spirit daily. You are a three-part being: spirit, soul and body. All three parts of you need quality nourishment in order to stay healthy.
• Take a class. You don’t need to go back to college. There are hundreds of ‘adult education’ classes available in every category of interest. Growing your mind is an excellent investment in you.

Activity is one of the factors essential for a long and healthy life. Your body needs exercise to stay healthy. So do your mind and your spirit. Learning will improve your self-confidence and self-esteem. You’ll be more effective in everything you do.

To have the best life possible, you have to be the best ‘YOU’ possible. Just do it!