Is Experience Truly the Greatest Teacher?

Have you ever paused to question whether mere experience itself is the greatest teacher, or if there’s something more to it?

Many of us take comfort in the old adage that "experience is the greatest teacher." We believe that simply going through life and encountering various situations will naturally make us wiser over time. While experience offers invaluable lessons, there’s a more profound truth we often overlook, it's not just the experiences themselves but the evaluated experiences that truly shape us.

What do we mean by "evaluated experience"?

Evaluated experience is the practice of reflecting on what we’ve been through, analyzing the outcomes, and learning from those moments. It's about pushing beyond the surface level of “I’ve been through this” to the deeper understanding of “What did I really learn from this?”

Einstein famously said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Without reflection and evaluation, we risk falling into this trap, repeating our mistakes without gaining true wisdom.

So, how can we turn our experiences into evaluated experiences???

I've been sharing these tips with my coaching clients over the last couple of months, bet your bottom dollar they had results. Here goes:

Pause and Reflect: Take time at the end of each day, week, or significant event to pause and think about what happened. What went well? What didn’t? How did you feel?

Ask Quality Questions: Reflective questions such as “What can I learn from this?” or “How will this impact my future decisions?” can be incredibly powerful.

Seek Feedback: Sometimes, others can provide insights we miss. Don’t hesitate to ask for feedback from trusted friends, colleagues, or mentors.

Document Your Thoughts: Keeping a journal or voice notes can help you keep track of your reflection process. Over time, you can look back and see your growth (best part for me).

Remember, it's not enough to just go through life; GROW through life; We must deliberately evaluate our experiences to extract the wisdom within them. By doing so, we turn every moment into an opportunity for growth.

Next time you face a challenging situation, ask yourself not only “What experience did I gain?” but also “What did I learn from evaluating this experience?”

Consciously,

Coach Khadija (KEFAS)