Steem4nigeria Accelerator Contest Week 139: Is Experience The Best Teacher?
Experience refers to the knowledge, understanding or wisdom that someone acquires through a series of experiences in life. It can stem from success, failure, joy, anguish or even from our everyday mistakes. One of the best ways to learn is through experience, something that sticks with you forever in the heart. Books can help to explain some things and give advice on others, but we may not remember them as fully if we have not been in those circumstances ourselves.
In my personal experience, I feel that the saying, “Experience is the best teacher” is true! This is what I believe because experience is the best teacher. Often, individuals receive instructions from loved ones like parents, teachers, mentors, or friends, but fail to make the same errors because they have not been put in a similar situation. But after they have experienced it for themselves, they will be careful and wise. Experience has a special way of molding a person's way of thinking and acting.
There is something I really enjoy about experience, it makes you mature. A person who has experienced adversity in life typically has a better grasp on the situation than a person who has not experienced it. For instance a person who has faced financial problems may realize the worth of money more than people who have never faced any financial problems. Also, a person who has fallen into a failure may learn how to better take care of future opportunities. Patience, wisdom, discipline and understanding come with experience.
I also have an experience that made me a great believer that experience is a great teacher. In my past I had a tendency to procrastinate. When I had something of significance to do, I would keep putting it on the back burner, saying, “Well, there's still time.” At times I was told to not put off doing things important, but I didn't follow the advice. I thought I would be able to get things together at the last minute.
I had a really important piece of work to do one day, but didn't get it done early, I continued to do things that weren't as important. I wouldn't have guessed that very soon the deadline had come so close. I was confused, stressed and frustrated, because when it mattered, I couldn't deliver. It wasn't a success and I was very disappointed with myself. I was really moved by that experience because I was aware that it was a result of my carelessness.
I changed my attitude towards time management from that day. I learned that the delay of tasks can ruin opportunities and add unnecessary pressure. Although people had told me before, it was that painful experience that made me change my mind altogether. That's why experience is a better teacher than regular words.
I do agree, however, that experience is the best teacher, but I don't feel that people have to get through all the negative before they can learn. It is sometimes better and safer to learn from others' experience. If not careful there are errors that can be detrimental to a person's future. For instance, when an older person tells a young one not to do something wrong, such as using drugs, committing crime, lying, etc., it is better for the young one to listen than to say, “I want to do it, too.” There are things that happen in life that you never want to experience again and you never want to do again.
That is why mentors, books, parents, and teachers are also extremely significant in life to me. They lead us, and we do not always have to learn the hard way. Reading or observing someone can sometimes be quicker as they have the knowledge and experience we need. A mentor can make a difference by giving the right piece of advice. Books are also the stories and knowledge of many great people. It is possible to learn from someone else's experience without having to experience it personally, by reading.
But, learning from errors also has its benefits. These lessons tend to stick with people when they make personal mistakes. Bad experiences are more memorable. For instance, a student who is not able to pass an exam due to being lazy might become more disciplined in learning in the future. This personal failure can be a pivotal moment in the person's life. Therefore, the learning from failure can sometimes be a little more difficult and painful, but the lesson may be more powerful and lasting.
In life, I feel the most effective way is to have a balance between experiences and what is passed on to us by the people who have come before us. Wisdom is not just about the experience, but it's about when to learn from others rather than what to learn from experience. A wise man listens, reads, watches and learns and still learns something on the way through life. Experience and guidance go hand in hand to facilitate learning.
Finally, I believe strongly that experience is one of the best teachers in life as it gives us real and memorable lessons. Character is molded by experience, wisdom is gained, and mental and emotional strength is increased. I think, but, however, that people should also listen to advice given by mentors, parents, teachers or books. There are lessons that you don't learn from your own painful experience. When we build on the experience and wisdom of others, life gets easier.
I invite @eveetim , @xkool24 and @mikitaly @sahmie and @bossj23 and @benton3 to drop a very constructive comments on this post and also to participate in this contest.