Self Improvement for The Rest of US
If you consider what are called the virtues of mankind, you will find their growth is assisted by education and cultivation.
-Xenophon (434 BC – 355 BC)
Self improvement is a most necessary undertaking if living means anything to you. And like I do on these pages I will straight away tell you that by self improvement I do not propose that you must strive to get a degree from Harvard or Oxford just because you can be whatever you want to be.
image courtesy stompy
Rather I say that you have to be able to evaluate your life situation as honestly as possible and then apply improvement measures that suit you.
Consider the following.
1. Learn a trade.
If deep down within you know you cannot handle higher education please save yourself time and money and go and learn a trade.
In many developing countries it is a very simple process where you get to a man or woman’s shop and with a fee you start at once to receive hands on coaching in a particular skill, be it carpentry or hair dressing or tailoring or whatever for a stipulated time.
It is a most practical alternative even for those that acquired university education by mistake.
2. Embrace vocational education
This is just another way making the same point as above for those living in societies where skill acquisition is properly structured. Vocational education is straightforward clear-cut. A person undergoing vocational training has no illusions as to where he ends up when his training is over. If you are going to be a carpenter or an electrician or painter you know a year or more (depending on the course duration) in advance.
Unemployment is news to you because you always know where to find work and setting up on your own is easy as well. Compare this to going to the university to study psychology or something for a number of years only to come out to go to a bank to find work.
3. Read, it’s cheap
Provided you go for the right books, this is an aspect of self improvement that is readily available wherever you may be or whatever your situation is. There are libraries where you can access books for free, reading societies where you can exchange books and discuss them; and if you need to own your own copies, which everybody should, you can buy at incredibly low prices at charity shops and even used books on the internet.
Good books are products of great minds, and if you suspect your mind is not so great do yourself the favour of tapping into this sure source of wisdom and information and watch the world take on greater meaning for you.
4. Ask questions
If you don’t understand something, ask. There is no shame in displaying your desire to add to your knowledge. Wise people are welcoming of those that ask questions. If someone is unwelcoming of your questions know that the person is ignorant (this includes teachers) and unworthy of the honour. It is an honourable thing to share knowledge; even more so to seek it.
5. Think
You must learn to focus on what is important and reach within for answers. Reflect, consider, judge, whatever you want to call it; but the idea is for you separate yourself and work things out for you. Avoid destructive thoughts as much as possible but “positive thinking” I find hard to understand so I cannot recommend.
Life is a race with ups and downs. If you can wish the downside of things away good luck to you. But don’t deny yourself the joy of reflection. There is undoubted strength in the ability to stay on top of unpleasantness.
Whatever you do, understand that being alive is a sign that you have a race to complete. You cannot run a successful race when you are stagnant. Life is movement. Therefore take the steps to acquire the tools that will take you to where you want to be.
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