21DJC Day 7 – What is the Most Important Thing You’ve Learned in Life So Far?

This is Day 7 of the 21-Day Journaling Challenge held in Nov 2011. The challenge is now over but you can do the tasks in your own time. Visit the overview page for all the challenge tasks.Empty book for journalingHi everyone – Welcome to Day 7 of 21DJC! :)Yesterday’s question was: “What Frustrates You?“.Thank *you* for your earnest responses. While it’s good to be positive, and to focus on the positive stuff, the thing is frustration is one in the spectrum of emotions we experience as humans. Everyone feels frustrated in some way or another – it’s just a matter of (a) whether you’re aware of it (b) whether you want to admit it or not.Some people may think: “Oh well, I’m never frustrated”, or “I’ve overcome frustration because I choose not to focus on negative things, only positive stuff”. Fair enough, but my question, and my challenge to you would be: Is it true that you’re never frustrated, or are you just not conscious of it? And for those people who still insist you’re never frustrated, are you perhaps denying your emotions, and deluding yourself?While the *feeling* of frustration is not a positive experience, it’s not a negative phenomenon per se. All emotions, as with all situations in life, are neutral occurrences. To give it any meaning beyond what it is, would be to turn it into something that it’s not.Like all of you, I have my fair share of times when I feel frustrated. Just yesterday, I was quite frustrated with the moderator of a conference I was speaking at, because for some reason, the outline that was agreed upon before the panel was not adhered to. I was frustrated because I had prepared a fair bit for the conference, and I felt half of the work had gone to waste, never to be absorbed by others. I was frustrated because it didn’t allow me to showcase my best value to the audience, who were there to learn about the topic.I would also be frustrated whenever people got in my way of growing, or helping others to grow. Because this is my life purpose, it felt like everything was at stake when I wasn’t allowed to pursue it. I would feel scrunched up on the inside, like my existence has been compromised.Other things that would frustrate me include people who impose their values on others, people who give their opinions and advice when not asked for, irresponsible people, people who make empty promises, when I sabotage my own weight loss efforts, naysayers, people who try to attack my beliefs, among others.I don’t think we should concern ourselves with eliminating frustration as an emotion. Neither should we let the feeling of frustration perpetuate too. Frustration happens as a result of things not going our way, so it’s a useful tool in self-discovery and growth.I think whenever we feel frustrated, we should strive to understand the source of our frustrations, learn from the situation, and apply what we learned, so the same situation will not recur in the future. This is what it means to learn and grow.With that said, let’s now move to today’s question!

21DJC Day 7

Today is Day 7, which marks the end of the 1st week out of the 3 weeks of our 21-Day Journaling Challenge. Having shared the things that frustrate us yesterday, today, I’d like you to reflect on:

What is the Most Important Thing You’ve Learned in Life So Far?

Man lying on the field

If you are to pinpoint just 1 thing you’ve learned, the 1 most important thing you’ve learned in your life so far, what would it be?

Your Task Today:

  1. Reflect and answer today’s question. There’s no word limit – whether minimum or maximum. Write as few or as many words as you want. It’s all up to what you want to express!
  2. Share your answer. After you are done writing, copy and paste your answer in the comments area and post it there.
  3. Check out other participants’ answers. Other participants will be sharing their answers too, so feel free to read and reply to their answers. This is a group course, so let’s support each other in these 21 days.
Look forward to reading your answers! :D

((Images: Empty book for journaling, Man lying on the field))

230 comments
  1. 21DJC Day 7
    What is the Most Important Thing You’ve Learned in Life So Far?

    The most important thing I’ve learned so far is to love myself and recognize the beauty that exists within me that comes from my Creator. There were many years of emptiness. I definitely DID a lot but it was lacking my essence and the gift of me I bring to what I do. There’s a great deal more substance and essence, passion in living!

    Have a great day everyone!

  2. what i have learned in life so far….

    be grateful to God for the way you are created
    appreciate yourself and love yourself
    make yourself happy cause no one can give you happiness if you don’t find it within yourself
    live a healthy life and do the right things always
    always picture yourself in your future cause you can never feature in a future you don’t picture
    show love to people around you and learn to forgive people
    dream big for you can never go beyond your dreams.
    don’t ever be discouraged by your challenges or what people say to you, believe in yourself and in your dreams
    above all be passionate about your goals, dreams and vision cause that is the only thing that will keep you going even when its tough.

  3. That I can always count on my family for support…

  4. Well, off the top of my head I would say don’t drink and drive! It’s so stupid and risky, and could harm other people. I cringe every time I hear about someone planning to drive somewhere when I know they’ve had even one drink.
    I’ve learned a lot about respecting one’s self, and facing the things we may not want to. I am the worlds biggest procrastinator, just because I don’t want to face things sometimes (like bills, or assignments…anything I perceive as unpleasant). But I have found that when we take a deep breath and take things head on, that’s when the magic happens and it’s a lot easier than you might’ve thought. I still need to take this discovery to heart in many ways, more for the things I WANT to do, not just for the things I HAVE to do. There is so much I want to do, and I make excuses…it’s like a game I play with myself. I really do feel like my hands are full right now, but I like the idea of an action plan to get things done. When I create a list, good stuff starts to happen.
    So although it can be scary, I think that what I have learned so far in Life is to get right to whatever it is you want to do. Don’t wait! Just do!
    As Yoda says, “Do or do not. There is no try.”

  5. Be true to yourself. It doesn’t matter how much your family and friends are trying to be there for you, if you’re not there for yourself to begin with. It all starts with you (and it all ends with you). When you start to take control of your own life and channel your own beliefs/goals/dreams into actions that you take responsibility and credit for, that’s when the fun begins.

  6. What is the Most Important Thing You’ve Learned in Life So Far?
    I have learned that most, if not all that happens in my life are in my hands ….my own doing. I just have to be strong and informed to make the best choices.

  7. The most important thing I’ve learned in life so far is to “always be true to yourself.” No matter what happens, if you stick to your gut, remain honest, and do what you think is right, things will eventually work themselves out the way they were supposed to and you will end up exactly where you are meant to be. People will come and go, jobs will come and go, day to day situations will come and go, and in the end you will have yourself and the knowledge that you always did the best you could.

    I used to care a lot about what others thought of me, what they thought I should do or say, worried about whether or not I said the right thing or upset so-and-so for not doing what they thought I should have done. Sometimes I even did things that someone told me I should do that I didn’t think I should have done, but I did it because I figured if they thought it was right, then I must be wrong. I wasn’t living my own life then, because I was too busy living everybody else”s. I was like a little lost bird, didn’t know what direction to go in or what I was supposed to do “next.” Once I started really taking the time to explore my own interests, and do the things that got me pumped up and made me feel “right” about doing them, and following my own heart and passions, everything started to fall into place immediately. I had less drama, was more confident about the direction I was going in, and all of a sudden everyone else’s opinions started to matter a LOT less. Sure, there are still people who have their opinions on what I “should” have done or said, or how I “should” have handled something differently. But my reaction is so completely different, because I only handle things now the way that I really do feel they should be handled, MY WAY, so I have absolutely no regrets, and what they say really holds no water with me anymore. Sure, I’ll consider what they have to say, but if it isn’t what I personally think is the right thing to do then I will thank them for their advice and that will be that. I feel like a much stronger person now who can really hold her own, and so much more confident in my day to day activities. Always be true to yourself!!!

  8. The most important thing I’ve learnt so far is that there are so many things to learn that I should continue to study more and more.

    I’ve learnt that when my emotion is high, I can’t think wisely. I’ve learnt that I have physical body and spiritual body, in fact the spiritual one is so important and luckily I’ve just understood recently. I also have learnt that I could create my own destiny and make my own decision. Well, for me they are all important and I can’t say which is more important than the other. Therefore, again, the most important lesson so far for me is to keep on learning.

  9. Most “problems” one faces are self-fabricated, or the severity anyways.

  10. What is the most important thing you’ve learned in life so far?

    The most important thing I’ve learned in life so far is that there is always more to learn. Whether it be about people or concepts, there is always more to learn and more to understand about the world.

  11. The most important thing I’ve learned is a motto I live by. “Only one of two things will ever happen…” it applies to everything, everyone, every emotion, situation, circumstance. Don’t think so? try it out. Have an argument with a friend. either they’ll get over it or they won’t. or you will or won’t. find something broken, either it can be fixed or it can’t, and either you’ll choose to have it repaired or you won’t. or choose to keep it or discard it. emotions, either you like someone or you don’t and I’ve always followed my gut and seldom deviated from my first reactions. And have usually regretted it when I did, but that too falls under the one of two things rule… either I’ll regret changing my mind or I won’t… This may not be everyone’s cup of tea but that too falls under the rule. Either you can appreciate it or you can’t.

  12. The Single Most Important thing I have learned in my life so far. It is definitely, “That I’m going to be okay”….

    As a child I saw things, heard things, felt things, no child should ever witness or be part of. I thought this is going to kill me; I am not going to live thru this moment in time –
    I DID

    I lost my sister suddenly, tragically when I was 23. I thought I was going to die. I felt life would never be the same, I felt I would never smile again; I thought this is going to be the thing that kills me, that takes away my love of life. I am not going to get thru this. I DID ….

    My husband, my friend, my playmate, my soul mate has had 4 open heart surgeries. I’ve been on my knees begging and bargaining for his life. There were moments when I did not have the strength to get up. I had friends who walked me to him for I was weak. I was not sure I would get thru it and I was only watching! He was the patient. He is fine today! He is in great health and so am I!!!!

    I lost of my job of 18 years! I felt out in the cold, scared, almost useless as pathetic as that sounds. I thought OMG — I smile today from my new place of work. I have great “digs” as my friends call them. Trusting that it doesn’t sound too poorly of me, my recent employer said to me in an evaluation, “The company depends heavily on you and it is a scary thought what we might have to do here without you”… I smiled, thanked him for the GREAT compliment and quietly said to him “Seven years ago, we did not know each other, I did not know this company existed, you did not know I existed. The company would be fine; I will be fine BUT Thank you because it is great to feel appreciated.

    The most important thing I have ever learned is, “I will be okay”. If not today because I am going thru a difficult time, then tomorrow or the next day when “This thing passes, because it will pass and I WILL BE OKAY… I am the strongest person I know…………

    Smiles

  13. Bilal Kamoon 14 years ago

    21DJC#6:What is the Most Important Thing You’ve Learned in Life So Far?

    There’s no doubt that the last few years of my life were the richest when it comes to new learnings and discoveries. But if I had to choose the most important thing I’ve learned in life so far, it has to be the Law of Attraction.

    Those who have read the bestseller book “The Secret” will know what I’m talking about. But for those who haven’t read it YET (what are you waiting for?), the LaO simply states that you attract whatever you think of, whether good or bad. Which also means that you and only YOU are responsible of whatever happens to you. Also, it means that you have absolute control over what happens with you in life simply by choosing the right thoughts.

    This realization had proven to be very handful. It definitely changed the way I look at life.

    To learn more about the amazing Law of Attraction, check out this article I wrote about it called The Law of Attraction: You Are What You Think.

  14. If I have to pick up ‘the’ most important learning in my life so far then it will be: to know where our mind is taking us. It is important to envision rightly. If happens like even though there is nothing to worry our mind scares us and everything falls apart and some other time although we need to call out for help we assume we can handle the situation all ourselves. The learning also means knowledge of the thoughts we hold and cherish which will one day come to life. Hold nice thoughts same will happen.

    Will read as many comments as possible for this challenge, it may give me new insight.

  15. I took some time to reflect on this one and while drinking my coffee, I still haven’t found the ‘right’ answer. I’d say the most useful lesson I learned is not to hold a grundge against anyone. When I was a teenager, the other kids used to call me names. It took me a while to understand and to accept people around me and not isolate myself from society. I didn’t realize how bad it affected me those silly names and games kids were pulling off, but once I did, I promised myself not to let this interfere in my relationships in the future. So I no longer judge people, I’m no longer upset when others judge me.
    Then there were other lessons that changed my life, especially the one that made me believe in God. Or my latest revelation, that happiness is a choice and that no matter how hard and miserable life is, I can choose to be happy.
    So yes, the most important things I’ve learned come from emotional lessons. Things I learned in school helped me too, knowing foreign languages so I can share this with you was also an important step in my learning experience.
    Maybe in the future my perspective will change and I might find other ‘most important’ things I’ve aknowledged. All it takes is never stop learning.

  16. At 64, the most important thing I have learnt is that Do not judge your actions but value them. I mean where my actions place me in the eyes of God. Give marks 0 to 10. 10 with the God, 0- I need not explain.

  17. The most important thing i’ve learnt in life so far.

    To have compassion and loving kindness for others, without compromising my own values, beliefs and aspirations.

    I believe in the inherent goodness of people, and that everyone should be treated with kindness because we are all fighting our own battles. Empathy makes us human, by feeling for others and doing what we can to show support and help, the world will be a kinder better place. It is also good to have empathy in this world that is increasingly self absorbed and egoistical.

    I’ve also learnt that while compassion for others is important, compassion for myself is important as well. sometimes we beat ourselves up over little things or sacrifice our needs for others. But it doesn’t have to be that the two are mutually exclusive, I believe having compassion for myself and others is possible.

    This lesson i’ve learnt from buddhism talks, and from some inspiring people i’ve come across. Still trying to practice it :)

  18. One single thing that I’ve learned ? Never value others more than yourself. I got in trouble so many times for not thinking of myself before helping others that now, I’ve grown a bit more selfish and with a much better life – as mean as that sounds !

  19. Shoot for the moon, even if you miss it , you’ll land among the stars. – Norman Vincent Peale

    This is one of my favourite quote and I can’t think of one occasion that it wasn’t true. Giving your best shot, or simply trying it out – changes everything.

    Back in 2008, I was filling out this massive scholarship application – that I thought I was totally unqualified for. The application was long, had a lot of questions I didn’t think I would be able to answer and I felt like my experience was nothing compared to many other people who would be applying. I had so many moments I wanted to give up – but for some reason, I didn’t. I thought, what could be worse? I can submit this application and not get it. There’s no harm in that. But if I don’t submit it? Then I lose that chance – forever. I ended up submitting it, got shortlisted and eventually was selected for it. It was unbelievable – and that scholarship turned my university life upside down. I got to go on an international internship with the support from the foundation, didn’t have to worry about my education until I graduated.

    Another prime example is how I got my first internship experience at a medical lab – I wrote out my application during my final exam time. It was a very bad timing. I was stressed out about my organic chemistry exam, and received an email about this internship position from my school advisor. I could’ve ignored and forgotten about it, thinking that I was too busy to do anything else – but I thought, why not? Why not give a shot? I got the job, and I ended up working there for another 3 years, and accomplished many things that I would’ve never thought possible.

    Recently I applied for a work position that sounded very exciting. It was with a pretty large corporation and I knew the competition would be massive. I already knew I was probably not the best candidate. I applied anyway. Same lesson follows – I made it to the interview rounds, and after 3 interviews, I received the offer last week. You just never know what might happen, and never want to lose that chance.

  20. Life is short. Take every experience, don’t have regrets and never give up hope.

  21. I wrote down some lessons I have learned earlier. One of the most important lessons I learned is to live life to the fullest. I am the only person who can make myself happy. Find out what makes you happy and do it. Above all focus on my religion because I get my strength and my faith and my love and understanding from it. All the answers to life are in the bible. I love God and I respect others for there beliefs. I hate when people are rude about what denomination I am It is better to be accepting and respectful of what others believe. I have a knowledge of other religions and I still believe in mine.

  22. I gave this a lot of thought and unfortaintely nothing particularly stood out. I think the most important thing I’ve learned is maybe my current understanding of how the universe works and about the nature of our own spirituality (which is drastically differeny but can also be tied into the orthodox religion in which I was raised).

  23. I used to be a extremely perfectionist person but through my life I understood that not only was my perfectionism holding me back it was making me miserable.

    I’m not entirely sure this is the most important thing I’ve learned in my life so far but it was very important for my personal growth so I believe it is the most apropriate to post here.
    the Most Important Thing You’ve Learned in Life So Far is that I’ve come to understand that even thou there’s always something else we can learn and develop in ourselves we must find the healthy balance between being humble enough to recognize that fact but also be proud of what we’ve achieved so far.

    After I stopped beating myself over my drawings not being top notch I was able to make much more improvement, since I started working on things I wasn’t very good at (something I didn’t do in the past because I was scared it would come out badly drawn) and was much happier to look at my drawings and say “Okay, today I did this part better than yesterday” =)

  24. The greatest thing i have learnt in life is to love. This includes both self and others. I never knew what it was like to love self, value self and to treat my self with love. I have started loving my self, getting my self good things and it has gone a long way in boosting my self esteem and I can hence dream bigger and appreciate others as well.

  25. If I have to pick just one thing I’ve learned so far, it is the importance of other people in my life. It has been one of the hardest and most difficult to grasp life lessons for my introvert personality. Although I still need a lots of alone time, I’m trying to bring more quality into the moments I spend with others and work I do for them. And it seems that just by acknowledging it, my attitude towards people in general has changed greatly.

  26. The 1 most important thing I’ve learned in your life so far, I’ve think of appreciate what I have, as long as I can breathe but I’d go with this, be true to myself. I do lie sometimes but not very often, lie about my true self. I’m not good and fear to express myself, there’s a communication blocks between me with others, sometimes words can bring me down. I would be quiet and in a low mood most often, sometimes will misunderstand and a bit arguing with others too. Last time I had attend training on my job, I lie that I have the skill. What happened is I try to pretend and depressed. When I express my true self to others, they may not agree with me. After that I will try to figure out and thinking about it that why it will be like this, try to find out the problem, thinking of situation could not so worse if I act differently and every person have their own personalities and opinions. In my mind what I will try to do is speak out my mind or change my point of view, find an easy way out. In the way be true to myself it is important for me to grow and become a better self although it is not easy but I can see the true hidden and immature of me, to become mature to become who I really want to be and to achieve mind, body and soul/spirit wellness. Learning to be truthful to myself and others, admit and correcting my mistake, personality; from defend to struggle to admit to awake and to change.

  27. a. To be independent [both financially and emotionally]
    b. Be there for people whom I really care about, rising above my limitations. For example: even though I was feeling tired, I took my daughter to the mall and enjoyed with her, knowing that she would enjoy the place
    c. Be a strong support to my family and friends
    d. Learn the art of selflessness

  28. the most important lesson have learned in life live every day as if its your last and trust only yourself fully

  29. This is a pretty loaded question and I hoped to have a simple answer, but I’m not sure if I can pinpoint just one thing. I’d have to say I’ve learnt that everyone is the creator of their own reality even if they are not consciously aware of it.

    I used to believe that I had no control over the things that happened to me in my life, but now I understand that I am the creator of my own reality. Sure, you do not get to choose your parents, your name, your body and your pre-determined place in the world before you enter adulthood (however many people believe that we had already chosen those things prior to our existence on Earth) but we do choose our thoughts, our words, our intentions, how we spend our time and who we spend our time with. And if we don’t select the things we want for ourselves, our reality will have been created by default.

    “There is nothing that you cannot be, do or have.” If you are not happy in your life, only you have the power to change it. Everything you want is accessible to you if you set forth the right intentions. From what I have learnt, every thought has a vibration, radiating a signal out into the universe and will attract a matching signal. The Law of Attraction says: that which is like unto itself is drawn. So you can change your life, you can break away from old habits and you can live out your dreams if you’d dedicated enough. You are what you think about and you will attract what you think about whether you’re consciously aware of it or not.

    Of course if not properly used you will continue to attract what you don’t want. For example, if you desire more money and you focus only on the lack of money you have, you will only attract more of it. But if you concentrate on the feeling of prosperity and imagine yourself wealthy, you will send out the positive vibrations that ask the universe to deliver your wishes. Your thoughts must always be in vibrational harmony with what it is that you desire.

    Up until last year, I was unaware of this concept and I didn’t realize my thoughts had such a power. I had accepted my reality the way it was, never taking into consideration that I am responsible for my own happiness. Anything is possible and to know that we are powerful beings beyond measure, inspires and motivates me to create the life I want.

    Reach for the stars *

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