We all have a frame of reference shaped by the wealth of experiences – both good and bad – we’ve accumulated over the course of our lifetimes.
I like to imagine my experiences as a portfolio, similar in many ways to my investment portfolio, though its value isn’t measured in dollars and cents. The true value of our experiences lies in how we put them to work. For ourselves. Or for others.
We all have a wealth of experiences that have shaped who we are and how we see life. We’ve had victories and defeats. We’ve felt joy as well as sorrow. Most of us choose what becomes of these experiences. We can see them as incidental, letting them drift into the background. Or we can see them as providential, as opportunities to accumulate wisdom, insights, or knowledge that can be deposited in our experience portfolio.
The value of an experience portfolio is not so much in the deposits, but in the withdrawals – the equity that can be drawn upon to make future decisions or to invest in someone else who may benefit from what we’ve learned.
Just as with your investment portfolio, reaping the benefits of your experience portfolio requires discipline and intentionality. Here are a few thoughts that have been helpful to me along the way.
The true value of our experiences lies in how we put them to work. For ourselves. Or for others.
Take Time for Reflection
We work so hard to get through the rough times. In good times, we say, “that was great,” and move on. What we usually don’t do is take the time to reflect, to ask ourselves “how has this experience shaped me?”
Reflection is a discipline, a meditation, a taking of inventory. It can be a moment on the way home from the office or the grocery store. It’s an opportunity to see patterns, consider better choices, apply the wisdom of experience, or see things we might have missed.
If you’re curious how it works, take a moment, now, to reflect on your own experiences of the past few days. What have you learned? How have you changed?
Joy is an underlying value and condition of the heart that can see you through times both good and bad.
Hard Times Build Strength.
When you think back over your life, you’ll most likely find that your greatest lessons and most noticeable personal growth have come as a result of difficult circumstances. Hard times build strength and refine our character.
I’ve disciplined myself to ask questions during the hard times. Why is this happening? And, more importantly, what new doors are opening as a result?
Unexpected Detours Can Lead us to Much Better Pathways.
In most cases, the new pathway is one we would have never chosen for ourselves or even known of. Think back on all the random choices and doors you’ve walked through over the course of your life – and how they’ve resulted in where you are today.
Joy Can Be Found in the Small Things.
Being content in all circumstances comes from finding joy in what’s around you. Instead of always searching for more, take a moment to enjoy what you have. Often, the simple experiences in life hold the deepest value.
Remember that you can have joy in your life, even in those times when you’re not happy. For myself, I’ve endured health challenges over the past few years that have forced me to slow down, to be more in the moment and present with people. Happiness (or unhappiness) results from events and circumstances. But joy is an underlying value and condition of the heart that can see you through times both good and bad.
Never Stop Learning.
Life experiences create real-life laboratories for learning. It’s like the opportunity to earn master’s degrees after master’s degrees. The lessons never stop coming. As they grow older, you can see some people slipping into autopilot – slowly but surely winding down. For others, an appreciation of lifelong learning translates into renewed and ongoing vitality.
