4 Essential Lessons Everyone Needs To Learn

When I was a kid, nobody told me learning would be a life-long pursuit. I thought once I graduated, with a piece of parchment in my hand and a bunch of letters behind my name, I was done.

Far from it. In fact, the day after graduation is when the real learning started.

Today, I’m going to give you a cheat sheet, the quick ABCD’s of life school. Learn these lessons and you’ll know what you need to get an A, no matter what pop quiz life springs on you.

Authenticity

Being authentic — genuine, honest, and true to what you know to be right — is the most important quality you can develop throughout life. It’s incredibly easy (and incredibly common) to lose touch with your inner authenticity, but deep down, each each of us knows our personal truth. Reconnecting with your authentic self is the most fundamental skill life has to teach you.

Brave

Bravery isn’t just for daredevils and it’s not a once in a while thing. Bravery should be a daily act for everyone. Expressing your authenticity often means going against the flow. Speaking up when it’s easier to remain silent. Changing direction while the rest of the pack follows a well-worn path. Only by being brave will you bring your authentic self and your core values into your life.

Challenge

The word challenge can imply confrontation or going out of the way to pick fights, but that’s not what I mean. I’m talking about challenging yourself. Figure out why you believe what you believe. Question your habits and your familiar thought patterns. Ask yourself if you’re being true to your authentic self, and if you’re not being authentic, ask what’s stopping you. Then set goals which make you step outside of your comfort zone. Challenging yourself is the only way to strengthen your bravery muscles.

Discern

Discernment is the ability to judge well. Exercising discernment requires finding a still, neutral place within you where you can examine facts without worry, fear, negativity, or any other emotional baggage. Discerning isn’t about being cold or cruel hearted. When you exercise discernment, you see yourself and your situation with genuine compassion. From that place of clarity, you make decisions and take actions which lead to the best possible outcomes for everyone involved.

So here’s your homework: pick one of these qualities to develop for the next week. If you don’t know where to begin, start with A, just like the alphabet. Take little steps each day. And remember: you don’t have to master everything right away. Because in life school you can work at your own pace and you can always retake the final exam.