The School of Life
(Photo collage of life lessons presented by my kids, nature, temptations, sports, spirituality and relationships.)
When life is demanding, it can be difficult to adopt a perspective that is wise. Your life situation takes center stage. You are more likely to be preoccupied with thoughts on how to deal with the ongoing drama. You are identified with your ego-centered self. You cannot help but blame everything and everyone for the situation that you are in. Yet, it is in the trials big and small – that life presents you with the greatest opportunity to evolve.
Recognizing Life Lessons
To name a few, trials can be in the form of disappointments, betrayals, abandonment, or upsets. They usually present to help you understand about your ego, to develop an awareness of your spiritual aspect and/or to live harmoniously with the natural laws of life.
However if you have been pretty much unconscious, you may fail to recognize that there is a lesson when life presents you trials. You put up a struggle. You remain obstinate, unwilling to concede that you need to take a step back or two to view the reality of the situation you are in.
Repeatedly ignoring the patterns can also set you up for a bigger life lesson to go through. Often enough, realization that you are out of balance strikes with a major event such as a life threatening health issue, a bankruptcy or any disaster. It has been proven again and again that many physical symptoms have a history of emotional built-up. (More about this later in a future article).
Trials Big and Small
It is also ironical that many of us choose to respond more favorably when life present a global crisis compared to a personal one. Humanitarian efforts are organized immediately to provide assistance. Groups come together for healing prayers. Hearts open, compassion flows. Everyone bows their heads and hold hands regardless of race, nationality or color, in acknowledgment and surrender to a Higher Order.
However, needed classes for your soul development are not always on a grand scale. In fact, the ones that are most challenging are the ones where your personal ego is at stake. It is the smallest things in life; your daily irritants, frustrations and upsets. You may not realize it but these are all the small little “tests” presented for your soul development. Your emotional reactions are indications that you are not in alignment with your true Being. But really how many of us use our reactions to examine ourselves?
It is also possible that you have been doing all the “right” things and yet are made to encounter a negative major event. Say for instance, you have been eating healthily and attending Sunday School for years. However, a recent diagnosis show that you have a severe medical condition. At this point, you may experience a sense of injustice. You complain bitterly. You may be tempted to lose your faith. God, it appears, has forsaken you!
Yet, it is precisely because you are at an essential point in your sacred learning curve that life throws in an unexpected challenge for you. Consider how it is like in any class that you take. There can be difficult questions to make sure that you have thoroughly understood the lessons involved. It is the same with the school of life.
Learning As A Series of Progression
Your soul evolves in progression, as you transcend over your trials, irritations and frustrations.
What if there someone holds up your time by his or her unthoughtful gesture?
What is no one holds the lift for you even though you are carrying bags of grocery?
What if the waiter keeps getting your order mixed up?
Ok…what about the example of a driver who cuts into your lane without prior proper signals?
I was looking for stories for inspiration when I came upon this testimonial in a book that I was reading. The testimonial was submitted by a man who confessed to once being a person who cursed and swore; and had no qualms about tailgating other drivers should they make the mistake of cutting onto his path. His soul progression was clearly illustrated by what he wrote…
The way I react to things has changed, too. Over time it’s all changed. Looking back on it I realize it’s been a progression.
At first, I’d be driving along and someone would cut me off and I would still call them a name but I wouldn’t make as big a deal about it.
Then, as time went on, someone would cut me off and instead of shouting at them I’d say “Well, maybe they didn’t see me,” when I knew they did.
Then it became, “Well I hope they don’t get in an accident.”
And then, instead of getting upset, I’d send them a blessing and say to myself, “I hope they get where they’re going safely.”
— Ho Jun Kim, Houston, TX from Born A Healer
by Chunyi Lin.
In a singular situation, Jun Kim demonstrated how he grew from being an angry and vindictive driver to a driver who understood unconditional love, compassion and oneness. His sending of blessings to anybody who has “wronged” him is certainly inspirational, don’t you think?
Any Case Studies To Share?
Where do you draw your life lessons from? Do you have any examples of soul progression to share? How did you evolve from the angry, bitter and negative person that you once were to the peaceful, loving and compassionate person you now are?
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