What if learning just four lessons could help you succeed at life?

With so many important things to teach our children, how do we choose what matters most?

We are constantly bombarded with information and advice about what we need to know about life success. It makes a complicated and, sometimes, contradictory, mix.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to simplify all of this into four main lessons?

As a grandmother to five and a bit (we have a new one coming soon), I often think about this. I take my mentoring role seriously and want to help those children become the best and happiest they can be.

However, I don’t want to take the fun out of our relationship and become a nag, so I’ve narrowed down the things I believe will help them to become resilient, happy contributors to our planet.

It comes down to just four things.

1. FOUR LESSONS – THOUGHTS

The first lesson has to be about the power of thought. It is, after all, a superpower. Mastery of thought gives us the power to overcome all of life’s challenges. We may not be able to control every situation that comes our way, but we can control how we think about it. And then how we react to it.

You are not a helpless victim of your own thoughts, but rather a master of your mind.

Louise Hay

When we understand this lesson we must take responsibility for our actions. Thought power allows us to let go of anger and embrace forgiveness.

The power of thought allows us to persevere, even in situations we don’t like.

Thought control gives us the ability to turn a disaster into an opportunity. It helps us find joy in the darkest of days.

Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.

Willie Nelson

When we are the master of our thoughts we can choose gratitude over thanklessness and that’s how we can find a glimmer of light in the darkest of days.

When we rule our thoughts, instead of allowing them to rule us, we can become whoever we want to be.

And by changing ourselves, we can change the world.

2. FOUR LESSONS – CONNECTED AND UNIQUE

This sounds like one of the contradictions I referred to earlier, but the truth is we are all connected and yet unique. Just like each piece of a puzzle is different and yet an integral piece to the whole picture.

When we understand our interconnectedness we can drop negative feelings of judgement and comparison and that frees us to revel in our own unique characters.

It is our unique qualities that contribute the most to the bigger picture.

We are not only connected to each other, but also to all of life. When we fully understand this lesson we realise the importance of honouring our connection to nature. From there, it’s an easy step to make positive change through our own actions. It is also a source of immense joy and keeps us healthy.

3. FOUR LESSONS – GIVING

When we give freely to others, we gain much ourselves.

An important part of the lesson of giving is to learn to set boundaries.

And that sometimes giving means giving up on those who would hurt us.

4. FOUR LESSONS – CURIOSITY

Keeping a curious mind means that life is forever interesting. There is always some new thing to discover and learn. This, in turn, gives us the knowledge and skills to help others, and ourselves. It fosters imagination and creative thinking, something each of us will need more than ever with the new challenges our world is providing.

That’s it. Four lessons to succeed at life. What lessons would you add?

Have a gleeful week, Tamuria