What is the purpose of our life ? One clear answer is GROWTH. Some may say attainment of prosperity which is in a way seeking betterment in life. No wonder everyone is either seeking professional, mental, physical or spiritual growth. But what if we stop growing? An old saying is that if you are not growing, then you are dying.
The three most dangerous words that you can say to yourself is – I KNOW THAT. The moment you say that, you are closing yourself to any kind of new learning & even stop listening to others perspective, which could have benefitted you. For example, you go to a seminar & the speaker talks about an area which you aware of, then the immediate reaction is – I know that & there is nothing new for me. This perception we have created in our mind even before we start listening. We may even sarcastically question on our mind – let’s see what he can say that I don’t know, which in a way make you compete while listening.
Once upon a time, a businessmen goes to a monk seeking wisdom. The monk welcomes him & sits with him. The businessmen starts telling monk about his successful business, his extremely comfortable life, power, money, authority & just keeps talking about himself. The monk patiently keeps listening. At some point the businessmen realises that he is only talking about himself, his success & soon stops. The monk very kindly ask him if he wishes to have tea. The businessman gladly accepts & monk picks up a cup. He starts pouring the tea & keeps pouring to the point the tea starts spilling. The businessman immediately screams – ‘Stop. The cup is full & there is no more space left for the tea’. The monk looks at the businessman & says – Exactly you can’t fill anymore if the cup is already full. So how do I give you wisdom. The businessman understood what the monk taught him.
We all have to empty our cup before we want to fill it with knowledge, wisdom & leaning. We have to be open to seeking the same with empty cups. Our mind is filled up with so many thoughts, perceptions, beliefs, biases etc. & we have to empty many of those to make way for new learnings in life.
So it is important to constantly keep learning new things / skills & keep reinventing yourself for a better you. So when we can upgrade software, why should we not upgrade ourselves with new learnings & skills.