Knowledge is like water and we are the cup that holds it. Old Chinese masters believe that to be able to learn new skills/knowledge; one must empty one’s cup of knowledge. This is one reason why they say “you can’t teach old dogs new tricks” because their cup is full. In my opinion, everyone at any age can learn something new and the only time we stop learning is in our Death Bed. If you can’t empty your cup of knowledge, then get a bigger bowl hence you can assimilate and take-in more knowledge.
When we learn something new, we should distinguish knowledge into Applicable/Useful and Non-applicable/useless for your own personal growth. We have to throw the useless and keep what is useful for our own self-improvement. In medical school, I remember they would over load us with endless knowledge everyday yet after only 20-25% is applicable in our practice. This is reality; our openness to the World’s bountiful knowledge is only as relevant to what is useful.
Discernment of knowledge is a mental and spiritual exercise. We have to tap our spiritual guidance, moral compass and internal logic to direct us towards our success.
My Step for discernment of useful knowledge towards success:
Pray for divine guidance, I tend to pray to God to guide me toward my success and spiritual mission in this life.
I tap to my internal Moral compass. Our moral compass will dictate that our success does not have to depend on stepping on others on your way to the top. Most of us call this “Crab Mentality”. Crab Mentality might lead to success but it will also give you a miserable life.
Align your vision of success with your mission in this life. I believe all of us are born in this world for a purpose. This purpose is called our “Life’s Mission”. The search of our Life’s Mission is of vital importance towards a happy and fulfilling life.
Birds of the same feather flock together. Surround yourself with friends and mentors with intact moral compasses and developed path/mission in life.
Give importance to your source of information. I believe a good tree will yield good fruit hence a good source will give you good information and vice versa.
Test the knowledge you have learned. Only by challenging the practical use of this knowledge, we can validate if the information is useful or rubbish.
Enjoy the process. Enjoy leaning new skill and be passionate about it. This process of failing and succeeding will define your character. It’s like in cooking, the recipe might not be tasteful for your taste buds hence you have to adjust it make more pleasing. Our success barometer is subjective hence our recipe for success should also be personalized.
Upon aligning our internal judgment, now we open our mind to learn that our hopes and dreams are possible and achievable. We have to open our mind that God wants us to succeed and he want us to carry out the mission he has for us. We have learn to open our hearts and accept success and happiness right now.