start digging. There are so many exciting aspects of this world that you have not yet discovered. Do you wonder what you might be missing?
Your assignment today is to try to do something beyond what you have already mastered. Pick a subject area that interests you and dive in. No excuses. Take action and pursue something new. You will add to the volumes of information stored inside your brain, and you will also stay in shape mentally. You need to be sharp when you are in hot pursuit of success.
Margaret is ninety-three years old, and she has never stopped learning. She conquers a crossword puzzle every morning and constantly reads new books on a wide variety of subjects. She is even up for trying new exercises whenever she meets with her physical therapist. Margaret had a stroke last year, but she bounced back faster than most people her age. Part of the reason for her achievement is she constantly keeps her mind and her body active. She continues to absorb new information and new experiences. Margaret is a great example of success—especially after her stroke.
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Your task today is to reflect on your past. When in your life have you learned the most? What exactly was going on that created a spike in your education? Some people assume they learned the most during their school years. Others disagree heartily with that idea and claim that their education really started when they got into the workforce and had to perform in a job. Their paycheck depended on learning a new skill, so they perked up and paid attention. Another group of people might point out that they learned the fastest when they were put in a crisis situation, either personal or professional. Maybe the welfare of their family or even their own life depended on learning something new. What has been your experience?
The quote above suggests that the difficult parts of your journey in life are your greatest teachers. Do you agree with that statement? Most of us would prefer an easy life to a hard one, but how much do we really learn during the effortless parts of our journey?
The next time you face difficulties, practice turning your dread and fear into a chance to engage and learn from your experience. This is a very difficult thing to do. It’s hard to step out of panic mode and open up your mind to learn new ways to cope with your situation. Be brave and try it. The more you are able to approach tough times as an opportunity to grow, the faster you will speed toward success. These experiences have nothing to do with winning and losing. In the end, it’s learning that matters.
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How would you describe the word knowledge? What synonyms come to mind when you ponder that word? Take some time to write in your journal today about knowledge. Then feel free to draw a picture or two that describes how you feel about knowledge, or use your creativity in another way to develop an accurate depiction of the word. Are your thoughts completely positive on this subject, or do you have a few resentments attached to it? Remember to always be honest when carrying out these assignments. You’re only lying to yourself if you cover up your true feelings. These exercises are solely for your benefit.
Helen Keller offers a slightly surprising and very enlightening definition of knowledge in the quote above, considering the fact that she was deaf and blind. Imagine what it was like to feel as isolated as Helen Keller must have felt before she started working with her teacher, Annie Sullivan. How did she endure that solitary darkness with almost no way to communicate with the world around her? How could she ever have imagined she would have an opportunity to learn, much less become a successful author, lecturer, and political activist?
Annie Sullivan found a way to communicate with her. She broke through the wall that Helen Keller struggled against, and the knowledge poured in. It was love and light and, yes, vision to a woman who once was blind. Knowledge is transforming, and this historical relationship between a teacher and a student is a shining example of its powerful nature.
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This quote is a terrific description of the benefits of mistakes. When you are learning something new, you really want to come across a big, juicy error. Why? Because it is bursting with seeds of opportunity. It is far more interesting to learn from your mistakes than it is to get everything right the first time.
Richard was a brilliant student. He had all the answers. His chemistry notebook was so neat it could have been
