When I began my business four years ago, I noticed an instant trend: I had to learn something new about myself every single day. There were so many revelations, trials and lessons that I can remember feeling so exhausted at one point I asked my mentors if there would ever be a reprieve. They wisely answered that question with another question, “Do you want to stop learning?”
Of course I knew the answer was, “No,” but I felt so overwhelmed.
Then my coach, Lynn Baskfield, did a great exercise with me that I now use with my clients. At the end of each year, we tallied up my achievements, disappointments and lessons.
She used this exercise to teach me one more important lesson. First, she had me burn my disappointments. No problem there. I wanted those things out of my mind ASAP.
Next, she made me take a match to my achievements. I stayed with her on that one, but I admit I almost dove in the garbage can to save them. How could I let those go? Weren’t those lessons proof that I was here and made a difference?
The she told me I would get to save my list of lessons. Not just save my list of lessons from being burned at the stake in our exercise that day, but actually get to keep those lessons forever.
Now I finally get it.
Learning and learning and learning is so important because the lessons are the only thing we get to carry forward.
