You Live And You Learn (Don’t Stop)
Ever feel like life keeps throwing curveballs? It’s easy to feel overly sensitive and demoralised by setbacks, especially without having a framework to see them with a sense of humour and in different perspectives. We need strategies to be able to depersonalise and reframe tough situations; they are a part of life after all. For myself, I’m learning to see these events as opportunities instead of setbacks. Life is a school that we’re all enrolled into whether we like it or not, and how we go through it is up to us. Sure, it’s the most chaotic, unstructured school we’ll ever attend. No syllabus, no office hours, no mid-term breaks. Just endless pop quizzes on patience, resilience, and “How to Keep It Together When Everything Falls Apart.” Whether we’re ready to learn or not, the learning opportunities are endless.
Thinking about life as a learning opportunity, helps us to be more resilient and learn about ourselves better. While we’re all just making it up as we go, there’s meaning to be made from our experiences and always something to learn. Failure can be the most brutal teacher, but it also hands out the best lessons—like how to survive public humiliation or turn rejection into a story you’ll laugh about someday.
Class is always in session…
I’ve realised as i’ve gotten older, it’s so easy to stop showing up for “class”. You settle into your routines, stop asking questions, and before you know it, you’re just going through the motions. Sure, you’re “adulting,” but are you really living a life that fulfils you?
For me, this became obvious during a particularly dull stretch of life a few years back when I realised I was just... coasting. Same habits, same mindset, same everything. I wasn’t learning, and I’m sure the stagnation showed.
Becoming reengaged with the school of life, for me, looked like navigating outside of a corporate career and trying things on my own. It was messy, uncomfortable, and often involved a tear or two. But guess what? It also taught me that I’m way more capable than I give myself credit for. Knowing yourself doesn’t mean you have all the answers. It means being okay with not knowing and trusting that you’ll figure it out when you need to. It’s only when we see life as a constant learning process that we can be okay with the discomfort and dive in head first.
If life is the school, then curiosity is the compass that keeps us moving forward. I try to ask myself questions, even when I’m scared of the answers. What brings me joy? What makes me angry? Who do I want to be, and what’s stopping me? These are the things you can only learn from your own life experiences.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that life doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should we. Sure, there are profound lessons to uncover, but there’s also enjoyment in the absurdity of it all.
