EP 382: How to Learn From Our Experiences

‘Life is the curriculum.’ - Jon Kabat-Zinn This is a quote I hold near all the time. The idea is that life will always offer us opportunities to learn. There is a catch to this, though: If we are labeling our experiences as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ experiences, then there is no way to learn from them. Case in point, last week I was in a bicycle accident that resulted in a great deal of physical pain. If I label pain as a ‘bad’ experience, I will focus on doing whatever I need to do to find relief. But if I accept the ‘as-is-ness’ of the physical experience of my pain, then I can be present with it and learn about my physical sensations. The product of this learning is emotional intelligence, which is one of the most valuable understandings one can have. And this value is derived directly from my ability to be present, accepting, compassionate, and curious about my experience. What do you think about this?