What the heart struggles to grasp!

"The true nature of an independent mind is not found in its conclusions, but in the way it arrives at them." - Christopher Hitchens

A friend once told me, "Practice Rational Thinking." At that time, my limited perspective made it difficult to grasp the importance of those words; I simply didn't see the necessity for such an approach. Little did I realize that those two words would become a guiding principle in my life, as every challenge of adulthood has prompted me to think rationally, and it has proven to be advantageous.

Adulthood, as we perceive it, is merely the visible part; the deeper struggles we face are often concealed beneath the surface. It feels like an endless race, one that we run daily, often forgetting that we just completed another lap yesterday.

I used to believe that life teaches us lessons as situations arise, but I now understand that learning is often a passive experience. Unless our spirit is ignited, the teachings fail to resonate. Each person we encounter has something valuable to impart, and we have much to learn from them.

However, I now wonder when this cycle of learning will come to an end. I feel fatigued by the constant influx of advice and teachings, as people struggle to expand my understanding while often remaining inflexible in their own beliefs. Ultimately, I've come to realize that the value of advice lies in the credibility of the source. It's essential to evaluate how qualified someone is to offer guidance on any particular matter. 

This discernment isn't an inherited trait; rather, it's a skill that must be developed over time, requiring self-awareness.As I once read, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Wisdom does serve as a foundation, and everything else is constructed from our perceptions and experiences.

All this while, I've focused on the intellectual aspect of RATIONAL thinking.

The more challenging part is for the heart to grasp this understanding and to act upon it, or to hold onto it for an extended period, which remains a mystery to me. Yet, I will continue to project an image of having it all figured out, just like everyone else. Meh!