Schools, colleges or universities may teach us how to make a living, but they don’t teach us how to live. Most of us learn many things about life by the trial-and-error method, which comes at a cost. Time teaches, but at the cost of mistakes. No matter how much advice we read or the warnings we hear, some lessons must come from our own life experiences. We learn only when we experience both joyful and challenging moments. Every experience, whether it is a success or a failure, creates an understanding in us that cannot be obtained from books. Those lessons give us clarity in confusion, patience in despair and strength in weakness. Wisdom comes with age. Here are seven invaluable teachings on living wisely.

1) Patience is more powerful than haste.

We live in a world that values quick results, immediate gratification and instant success. But the truth is, lasting power comes from patience. We often look for shortcuts — quick fixes, immediate influence, easy control. But real strength doesn’t come from rushing through life or forcing outcomes. It comes from the quiet confidence of knowing that we don’t need to act in haste.

In nature everything has a gestation period. During monsoon farmers sow the seeds, but they will have to wait for a few months to harvest the crops. They can’t get it overnight. Haste is detrimental to lasting success or happiness. Whether it is building a career, comforting a grieving heart or mastering a skill, patience allows for natural growth.

There is a Buddhist saying, “Don’t push the river. It will travel at its own pace anyway.”

2) Have no fear of failure.

We may tend to think that with initial failures we are doomed. But over time, we learn that failure is just a stepping stone, a learning curve and feedback. It is a necessary part of our growth.

It teaches us to review, rectify the errors, adapt and become stronger. The most successful people have failed many times and refused to give up on winning. There is nothing wrong in committing mistakes and we are entitled to make mistakes, but we have no right to repeat the same mistake ever again.

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” — John Quincy Adams

3) People change and that is nothing unusual.

Everything is subject to change every moment. With time people, their behavior and their attitude also change. Relationships evolve and relatives can go in unexpected directions. Being too attached to someone or expecting them to stay the same leads to anguish. Letting go doesn’t mean we care less. It means we respect the natural flow of life.

4) Self-care is essential and it’s not being selfish.

When we are young, it is easy to prioritize others over our own needs. But, if we neglect ourselves, it will drain our energy and happiness. Self-care, that is, taking care of our physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual health should be a priority.

5) Comparison steals our happiness.

We should never compare ourselves with anyone in this world. If we do so, we are insulting ourselves. We have no idea what their journey is all about. Each of us is unique with different skills, talents and abilities. It is not right to measure our success against others. This is a ubiquitous plague, especially in today’s world of social media. But over time, we realize that comparison only creates jealousy, insecurity and dissatisfaction. Everyone’s journey is unique, with its own pace and milestones.

6) Gratitude changes perspective.

Life is not perfect. The power of gratitude is that it changes our mindset. Small moments of joy, appreciating those around us, help us find peace amidst chaos and open the door to deep happiness.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order and confusion into clarity… It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing and mistakes into notable events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” — Melody Beattie

7) Our time is precious.

We have an extremely limited time at our disposal. So, it is ridiculous attempting to fulfill unlimited desires in a limited lifespan. Hence, we need to spend it wisely. Only as we get older, there is a serious realization that time is limited. Life’s distractions seem less important, and priorities become clear. We learn to invest our energy in passions, relationships and experiences that enrich our soul.

These teachings do not come from reading or from the advice of others. They come through the highs or lows of our unexpected journeys in life. The more time we spend experiencing and growing, the clearer these truths become. It’s okay if we don’t master all these teachings. The beauty of life is that learning never stops till the end. We should remain students throughout life. Then we become wiser, stronger and more compassionate every day.

Common sense in an uncommon degree is wisdom.