Lessons From a Lifelong Learner

So many people are obsessed with self-improvement these days. Overall, I think that's a good thing. I'd be worried if it were the other way around. You certainly wouldn't want to live in a society that was obsessed with self-diminishment. I too am working to improve myself daily. That's why in my most exceptional moments, I like to define myself as a "lifelong learner." What does that look like? Well, when you have the attitude that your schooling didn't stop when you stopped going to school, then you are on a path to growing and improving your life every day. The fact is, most of the important lessons in life are not learned in school at all. You learn you most important lessons in the context of your family, your job, the athletic field, or while enjoying your favorite activities in life. You also learn in the midst of conflict, crisis, disappointment and failure.

Everyday is a classroom when you commit to being a "lifelong learner." There's always a lesson to learn, a test to pass, a new discovery, a grade you've earned, and a next level to which you graduate. As I reflect on this, I am challenged by the barriers and self-designed roadblocks that keep me from growing. There are three things that I think keep us from moving forward and taking the next steps in life. They are:

1.  Pride... Believe it or not, many people stay stuck where they are in life because they don't think they need to improve. When you think you know it all, that's pride. No one ever "arrives" at perfection in life. There is always room for improvement. So if you think you don't need a refresher course, think again. Life has a way of dragging you back to the same situations that you've failed to learn in the past (kind of like the movie "Groundhog Day") until you get it right!

2.  Doubt... Another big barrier to personal improvement is self-doubt. We doubt that we can do it. Whether it's losing weight, becoming a parent, or starting a new job, we often sabotage our efforts with fearful thoughts of inadequacy. When faced with setbacks, a cynic believes that action in response to their doubts is useless because nothing is ever going to change. That is an “I give up” attitude and it is not going to lead to solutions.

3.  Time... Very often, people want to change, they want to find solutions, but they're too busy to make it happen. And if anyone wants to take on a new challenge, there is always a time commitment that must be made. No one on earth has more time than anybody else. It's an equal-opportunity commodity that must be managed in order to be maximized. Something always needs to be sacrificed in order to make time for self-improving efforts.

There are other barriers to growth and improvement that my list may have sparked in your mind. Whatever it is, my encouragement is to search for ways through these barriers. It takes a change of mind, a mental toughness, and a steadfast devotion to achieving your goals that will get you to the next level of growth. Until then...

I gotta grow!

J.T. Bean

Email: jamestbean@gmail.com

Twitter: @58beans

YouTube Channel: JTBeanScenes

Positive People Prevail

It’s no surprise that optimism breeds success. Optimism is also known as a “glass half full” mentality. This mentality is understood best through the story of identical twin boys. One was always happy and upbeat. The other was constantly negative and complaining. The contrast between the boys was so pronounced that the parents decided to seek help from a psychologist to see how to best deal with this imbalance between them.

The counselor learned that they had a birthday in just a few weeks and suggested that the parents buy gifts that would counteract the tendencies in their personalities. So for the pessimist, the parents were instructed to purchase top-quality expensive gifts that most children only dream of getting. And to the optimist, the counselor suggested they buy him a huge pile of horse manure.

The parents thought this was an intriguing idea and certainly worth a try. When the boys’ birthday finally came, the twins were separated and given their special gifts in rooms across the hall from each other. 

In the first room, the negative boy right on cue began to complain. As he opened up his new laptop, he moaned: “I wonder how long it will be before this thing crashes.” And when he opened up his new iPod, and whined: "I don't like this color.” And of his remote control monster truck: “My friend Stevie got a bigger car than this.” 

Disappointed, but not surprised, the parents turned their attention to their happy little twin. Surely he must be raising a stink about his filthy heap of dung disguised as a birthday gift.

Tiptoeing across the hall the parents peeked in and saw their little optimist gleefully throwing the manure up in the air. They were amazed to find that he was smiling and laughing, almost singing: "You can't fool me! With this much manure, there's gotta be a pony under here!"

Although some people seem to be genetically predisposed to certain attitudes, the point is, life’s circumstances can always be twisted one way or the other. You can choose to look at life as empty of enjoyment or full of fun. Your attitude is ultimately a choice that you make. And which person (the optimist or pessimist) will be more likely to succeed? The answer is crystal clear. When life becomes difficult, the pessimist grumbles and gives up, while the optimist presses on and prevails!

J.T. Bean

Email: jamestbean@gmail.com  

Twitter: @58beans

YouTube Channel: JTBeanScenes