In the Western world, there tends to be fixed and regimented ideas concerning what should be included in the national curriculum. It is only recently that these tried and tested educational subjects have been challenged, however, as both the British, American, and Australian governments look to introduce a mandatory program of financial literacy for high school students.
Given the pace of technological, scientific and social advancement, it makes sense that each country’s curriculum should change to meet the evolving needs of its subjects. This is the approach adopted by educational authorities in Hong Kong, for example, who have been teaching the principles of morality to students for more than a decade.
Morality is typically a lesson taught outside of the classroom, with parents and guardians setting the example for children to follow in their formative years. This is just one of many topics that can be taught through life experience and the example of others, and which form the basis of our outlook and philosophy as we approach adulthood. Consider the following:
1. How to consider and care for others
Learning how to consider and care for others is one of the most important life lessons you can learn, as it enables you to enjoy satisfying and mutually beneficial friendships as you grow older. Without this, you will be perceived as selfish by your peers and ultimately fail to develop relationships, whether romantic or platonic. This is a lesson that is usually learned within individual social circles, as those who fail to consider the needs of their friends will ultimately become ostracized from the group.
2. The art of compassion
On a similar note, it is also important to develop empathy and compassion for your fellow person. This applies to both friends and strangers, as a compassionate outlook enables you to become an excellent friend, boss, and mentor to the people who you come into contact with. This is usually learned through harsh or challenging life experiences which force us to understand the nature of emotional distress and how it impacts our philosophy and behavior. Without compassion, it is extremely difficult to evolve as a person and engage in positive adult relationships.
3. How to maintain successful relationships
Learning about compassion and understanding will undoubtedly help you to enjoy more successful relationships, although this also depends on alternative aspects of the human psyche. Developing the skills to cultivate positive relationships is a life-long pursuit, and you must remain open-minded when learning how to deal with others and adapting to accommodate their needs. Over time, your communication skills will evolve as you interact with a growing number of people from different social circles.
4. Life is not always happy or positive
Even with the best of intentions, our personal and professional relationships can easily turn sour. The same principle can also be applied to life as a whole, as it is an unpredictable entity that is capable of delighting and disappointing in equal measure, This is a lesson that can be exceptionally hard to learn, although it is vital in terms of teaching you to manage your expectations and resolve the problems that complicate your life.
5. Perseverance is the key to a content life
Whether you are experiencing problems in your relationship, or struggling to fulfill expectations at work, perseverance remains the key to unlocking a happy and content life. It is crucial that you are proactive in appraising your problems and attempt to work through them diligently, even if this involves confronting difficult or emotive feelings. While it may be tempting to bury your head in the sand when confronted with a serious issue, life soon teaches you that this will only exacerbate your problems over time.
6. When to challenge authority
There is an old adage which suggests that you should “pick your battles” in life, and this means that you must be careful and exercise discretion when challenging authority. The issue with this is that we tend to be more fearless in our youth, and will challenge anything that we deem to be unfair or contradictory to our unique sense of justice. As you grow older, you must learn from experience and consider a dispute from all possible angles before deciding to confront your boss or superior.
7. The importance of future planning
With the former point in mind, it is clear that the impulsiveness of youth can often deliver important life lessons for the future. One of these is the importance of forward planning, which can include everything from investing in real estate, to ensuring that you make regular contributions to a private pension plan. While such considerations are unlikely to play on your mind when you are young, it is important that you make formative plans for securing your long-term future while you still have the opportunity to influence it.
