BE A STUDENT IN LIFE
As we navigate through life, it is extremely important to remain a student; or a leaner. As a student, we go to class, study and do homework in order to prepare for the test. And it’s the same in sports, we practice and prepare, and we put our practice to work on game day (the test). Even after you graduate and your days of sitting in class are over, you should still be a student in life, remaining curious, open-minded and willing to learn new ways to expand your scope. The moment you think you know everything is the moment that you lose in what life has to offer. If you believe that your way of doing things is the only way there is, you are going through life with blinders on and limiting your potential. There’s always more to learn and ways to improve.
As a utility player in life, the position of student means you’re constantly learning and growing. There are lessons all around us and we can learn from just about anyone. Most people in life can learn the basics of things fairly quickly, but the sad part is most people peak at a level of proficiency that they are satisfied with. Once we get good enough at a level that we’re okay with, we stop there. A very small percentage of people go beyond that level. They never peak. They just keep learning, growing and improving for years. Those are the ones that separate themselves from the rest of the pack; those are the people that go on to reach unique success. Those are the utility players in life.
Here are some tips to being a student in life:
- READ, read and read some more: There are so many books (audio and hard copies) that can change the course of your life. Most people don’t read because they “don’t have time.” No one has time… you make time. Wake up an hour earlier. Listen to audio books while driving. I read every day for about 20-30 minutes and I get through 2 books a month (and my mentors tell me that’s still not enough). Trust me, you’ve got to make this a priority or you won’t do it. When you read, sort through, gather information and decide what is valuable to try, then go apply the things you learn. Reading leads to better thoughts, which in turn lead to better actions, which then lead to better habits, which then produce better results.
- Be attentive. As a student in life, you want to be present in the things you’re working on. Eliminate distractions. Get to know your learning style. Are you a night owl (person who goes to bed late and wakes up late) or a lark (person that goes to bed early and rises early in the morning)? To make the most of your time and opportunity to learn, make sure you’re doing the things that require your mental attention and strength during the time of day when you have the most mental energy to give. You want to set yourself up for success.
- Copy genius. A great way to navigate through life as a student and continue to gain knowledge is to seek the council of other people. Borrow other people’s knowledge. I call it copying genius! Similar to having a tutor in school, or a coach on the playing field, you can have a mentor in life. Seek people that know the things that you don’t and are willing to help you learn. Ask for help, ask for advice, ask for the experiences of others and take notes so you can learn from them!
As athletes, what happens when we stop exercising? We start to lose our muscle, our strength and our endurance. Well, life is no different. We must continue to build strength and stay committed to life-long learning. After all, you don’t have to be sick to get better. There’s always room for improvement, so never stop learning! You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Blessings and love,
Marti Reed