There are no shortcuts in life. I believe in this maxim wholeheartedly.  A corollary to that maxim is there is no royal road to wisdom or to living a life of purpose. Both of the latter requires hard work, discipline, and consistency.

Let me expand briefly on each of these topics in this my eighth letter or message to my Millennials and Generation Z members in my family. This letter will be rather short, straightforward, and to the point.

Shortcuts in Life

I believe shortcuts in life, in almost all cases, lead to less than optimal results, regardless of the professional work or activity in which we engage.  I once read that it takes ten years of practice and training to master a skill or art.  I suspect that this is true.  Some individuals are blessed with innate talent, but most of us require more time to become skilled, whether as a scientist, an artist, or a writer.  Prodigies or overnight sensations are rare and quite unusual. The message here is to lay out a plan and follow it daily, whether it is a reading plan, a life strategy, or a series of goals to accomplish.  

The Road to Wisdom

The road to wisdom requires that we read and study and become lifelong learners. This road, in simple terms, is a three-step process that takes us from knowledge to understanding to wisdom.  Knowledge is gained easily, but understanding is much more difficult. And moving from understanding to true wisdom is even more difficult still. I equate wisdom with the universal truths that the great cultures have revealed or codified throughout history.

Living a Life of Purpose

You must begin living a life of purpose by starting as soon as you possibly can. Finding your purpose in life requires that “you know yourself” at a deep level to paraphrase a quote from Socrates, the first philosopher of note. Very few people understand themselves because such understanding is hard work and requires thinking and reflection. I encourage you to set aside 30 minutes every day for quiet reflection without distractions and interruptions.  Those 30 minutes will reap personal value to you, which will be an order-of-magnitude higher than the time spent.

And until my next letter, I remain with great affection,

Old White Beard

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Length: 406 Words Reading Time: 1 Minute + 40 Seconds