Embrace Life's Lessons

I was in a Yoga related learning exercise over the week, where the Guruji was giving assignments for each day. One of them was to write down what life taught you and to introspect whether we have learned something from those lessons or whether we are repeating our errors again and again! This task made me to summarize the seven learnings from life as below. 1. Hear them – When someone speaks to you on official or personal interaction, hear them with rapt attention. Most of the time, we would be either thinking about what to reply, while the person opposite is still coming out with his point, or we would be thinking of another topic of the day, lacking attention to the conversation going on currently. This applies to when we are listening to a talk in a conference, a podcast, a webcast, or a YouTube video. Putting all our attention brings in right inputs, improves quality of exchange and better outcomes for both sides. 2. Conclude Slowly – When some inputs are coming to you on a topic, or while in a debate over a point, take time to think through all sides. Listen to the perspectives of other people intently. This may seem similar to point one, but it different in terms of assimilation and response time. First one deals with quality of exchange whereas the second one talks more about quality of decision or outcome, which is more gross or strategic. Sometimes, delaying a decision or a call back or a hasty conclusion has given rise to better and more informed outcomes. 3. Decide Quickly – This may seem a contradiction of the first two point of views. But that is not the case. This point is basically in the context of important timely decision making at work and at home. When you are driving at the road and a decision on applying brakes or proceeding further, is a quick on the moment decision where our intelligence would play a better role along with intuition. In this context, the contemplative approach is not the right fit. When it comes to actionoriented decision-making make it quick and chug away quickly. 4. Time is a healer and problem solver - Everything cannot happen quickly or at the speed we desire. Certain things in life take time. It may be related to a relationship healing or solving a long pending official problem. Give time, some time! As seen on many occasions, someone or the entire universe brings out a way out of the mess at the right time. Wait patiently. 5. Team game it is - Imagine you are a bowler in cricket field and bowls well to provoke a catch, which the slip fielder put down. Ouch! You feel bad and would also like to be the slip fielder while bowling? Is this possible? Answer is No! We are parts or co players in a larger game and sometimes we collectively fail, even if you did your part well. Hence know that despite our best efforts, some games fail. This is true when you drop the catch too! 6. Empathize People – Primarily we will notice that people are selfish and keeps their focus on their personal gains. This applies in professional and personal contexts. We cannot help. Be empathetic to people for being what they are. Give good and receive good! 7. Gratitude as an attitude – Do you remember the nurse who nursed you when you came out of your mom, many years back? Impossible. She or he also did her part in a way for you to thank. Have phenomenal gratitude in life. Take time to think about the people – known and unknown to you, who have done their small bit to take you to where you are today.