Best piece of advice ever given? (500 words max)
"The only way to improve is to be humble and reflect upon you."
Much like that of any arrogant child, growing up, I hated to hear what was known as "constructive criticism". At the time, I failed to capture the "constructive component and only saw the words of my peers and elders as "criticism". My parents had always been successful people, whether it was work related or socially, they knew how to act and make people have a fondness for them. I, however, did not have the same reaction with my own generation. It was only until a certain time period that I discovered this truth to life.
Every time we had a family meeting, my parents would talk to me about the current issues they were unsatisfied with me. It was hard to absorb such a vast amount of criticism and it almost seemed as if they were attacking me. It goes without saying that I didn't really listen too much, if any, advice they gave me.
Suddenly, or maybe I was just beginning to notice, one day at school that some of my peers would ignore my words or just leave to go somewhere without me. I felt frustrated to always have to keep up with their footsteps and try to get a word in, and even more irked at the fact that I did not understand the reasoning behind their actions. It was when I found myself wandering about the hallways alone that I was able to contemplate on my behaviour. Maybe i crossed the line with a certain joke or maybe I had offended someone else's pride with a careless comment because I do know that I have a tendency to do that. It was only until I saw myself from an objective light that I was able to overcome that biggest obstacle-myself. It was finally at that time when everything my parents had been saying to me for the past years finally clicked in my head.
Self reflection is not always easy. It is explicitly telling yourself to look inside past all the superficialness, pass the pride and dignity for the dirty flaws that most likely you are unwilling to admit to. But that finding and correcting those vices, those flaws may be exactly the kind of tunnel to get across and develop yourself to another level.
My father told me advice this when I was ten. Seven years later, I am finally able to engrave this into my mind and wrap my head around it. Though disconcerting that it took me so long to realize the profound meaning and effective, I am forever grateful that I know it now, for I can apply it to the rest of life to give it the most depth and meaning as can be.
"The only way to improve is to be humble and reflect upon you."
Much like that of any arrogant child, growing up, I hated to hear what was known as "constructive criticism". At the time, I failed to capture the "constructive component and only saw the words of my peers and elders as "criticism". My parents had always been successful people, whether it was work related or socially, they knew how to act and make people have a fondness for them. I, however, did not have the same reaction with my own generation. It was only until a certain time period that I discovered this truth to life.
Every time we had a family meeting, my parents would talk to me about the current issues they were unsatisfied with me. It was hard to absorb such a vast amount of criticism and it almost seemed as if they were attacking me. It goes without saying that I didn't really listen too much, if any, advice they gave me.
Suddenly, or maybe I was just beginning to notice, one day at school that some of my peers would ignore my words or just leave to go somewhere without me. I felt frustrated to always have to keep up with their footsteps and try to get a word in, and even more irked at the fact that I did not understand the reasoning behind their actions. It was when I found myself wandering about the hallways alone that I was able to contemplate on my behaviour. Maybe i crossed the line with a certain joke or maybe I had offended someone else's pride with a careless comment because I do know that I have a tendency to do that. It was only until I saw myself from an objective light that I was able to overcome that biggest obstacle-myself. It was finally at that time when everything my parents had been saying to me for the past years finally clicked in my head.
Self reflection is not always easy. It is explicitly telling yourself to look inside past all the superficialness, pass the pride and dignity for the dirty flaws that most likely you are unwilling to admit to. But that finding and correcting those vices, those flaws may be exactly the kind of tunnel to get across and develop yourself to another level.
My father told me advice this when I was ten. Seven years later, I am finally able to engrave this into my mind and wrap my head around it. Though disconcerting that it took me so long to realize the profound meaning and effective, I am forever grateful that I know it now, for I can apply it to the rest of life to give it the most depth and meaning as can be.
