We all make mistakes.
In fact, life mistakes are inevitable.
Heck, in many cases, they're even desirable.
After all, we learn from our mistakes when picking up a language – including our native mother tongues.
But some life mistakes are probably avoidable.
Like the 4.1 I'm going to discuss in this post.
They are in no particular order of importance.
But I've stuck the one with a tutorial at the end. I believe if you pay that final point the most attention…
… and put its mini-lesson into action…
You will avoid SO much pain and suffering.
I wish I had known about that unique set of strategies anyone can use at least 21 years sooner!
So whether you're 41 or any other age, let's dive in with these mistakes life has burned into my memory and that I could have done without.
1. You Cannot Fulfill Anyone Else's Dreams (No Matter How Hard You Try)
Maybe it's all the Romantic poetry I read.
Or maybe it's just in my genes.
Whatever the reason, I have somehow wound up with a tendency to try and make others happy.
But it's a trap!
Every time.
First off, "happy" is mostly meaningless.
There are too many possible definitions. Most of them are far from impressive, let alone correct.
I prefer the Greek term eudaimonia.
Some people translate it as happiness, but it actually refers to "flourishing."
Already, that sounds better.
Concrete.
Something you can feel, see, embrace.
But even then, you cannot give flourishing to another human being.
The best you can do is reach out and try to connect.
Share with them some of what you know and the story of how you came to understand it.
Yes, there is "hard teaching."
There is the do-this, do-that of the Memory Palace. Anyone can repeat the process, even if they're a skeptic at first. (Especially if they're skeptical.)
Likewise with brain exercises.
But getting people to complete the exercises?
That's entirely on them.
The best you can do is offer inspiration and encouragement.
And if you love them, let them be.
Our siblings on this long-suffering earth can only do the things they are going to do.
And those of us who have traveled to a particular destination, can only show the way – the way we took, amongst many possible paths.
Though to reach some destinations, there really are only singular and definitive ways to reach the end.
Either way, if student and teacher are lucky enough to meet somewhere on the road, they can break bread.
Maybe sing a song or two together.
Or just hang out on a YouTube Live like this one we did for my birthday:
(If you're not subscribed to my YouTube channel, you can take care of that here.)
But sooner or later, both will be off again on their individual journeys into the unknown.
And that's a beautiful thing.
But when you try to tether ships together…
All too often, the ship bows start to knock.
And no two sails interpret the wind quite the same.
How could they?
Same wind.
Different sails.
If something you've taught them about sailing helps them correct course to wherever it is they're trying to navigate, that's great.
But they ultimately accomplished the task of navigation. From the deck of their own ship.
And there are lots of possible destinations.
We can't all wind up
Published on 7 years, 9 months ago
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