The Lesson

Every calamity is a spur and a valuable hint. – Emerson

In every experience there are two questions one can ask:

#1 – Is there a lesson in this?

#2 – What’s the lesson in this?

Just asking Question One is a great step. A wonderful sign of willingness.

Asking Question Two is what all happy, fulfilled and successful people do – consistently (in some form or another).

*  *  *

This is so because there’s no failure, only results.

These results can be seen as unwelcome and negative (and thusly resisted . . . ) or seen as information, as just-ripe wisdom ready to be harvested.

This choice is always available to you: to use what’s happened for your benefit, or not.

Similar Posts

  • Pain vs Injury

    There’s a difference between pain (and discomfort and effort) and injury. When we’re in “pain” we often give up. Now, I’m not talking about doing things that create injuries, more the things that we say: “oh what a pain that is” about. Injuries are when things get damaged and need to heal. Pain, discomfort, and the…

  • The Folly of Anger

    Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. – Buddha This is an oldie, but a goodie. Take a minute to let this one sink in . . . . The next time you’re inclined to pick…

  • Questioning and Acceptance

    One’s first step in wisdom is to question everything – and one’s last is to come to terms with everything. – George C. Lichtenberg These are not steps, in the traditional sense, to be taken in sequence. Ideally one takes both steps simultaneously, throughout their lives. I don’t mean to say you question “everything” in the…

  • Intelligence & Fitness

    In an interview with Tim Ferriss I heard Tony Robbins say something very interesting. He mentioned the difference between emotional intelligence and emotional fitness. It was such a powerful distinction for me . . . . *  *  * Yes, the latter requires the former, but the former is (really) meaningless without the latter. Meaningless…

  • The Opposite of Creation

    In life, the opposite of creation is not destruction, it’s victim-hood. “Huh?” (you may say). In life, we can choose to be responsible for our lives and create through our choices, or play the victim and allow life to wash over us all the while lamenting the unfairness of things and wallowing in passivity. Put another…