Infinite Inspiration: Begin with Self-Education
By Venkateswarlu Kadiveti
Staff Writer
“Human life should be purpose-driven. The purpose is to uplift one’s own self as well as society.”
Self-education is an important prerequisite to inspiration. Inspiration without self-education may lead to confusion and destruction. In addition to formal education, we want the kind of education that can liberate us from human weaknesses and give us the courage to pursue our dreams so we can benefit ourselves as well as society. To achieve this we first have to study ourselves, so that we may direct our energies towards a purpose.
Self-education includes two components. Knowing yourself means gathering information, about your daily routine or habits, the friends you hang out with, the relationships you are in and your achievements and failures. This helps you to know where you stand today. The second component is to understand yourself. This task requires an open mind and a change of perception, and it often requires a guide. Good books and a mentor can provide this. They can help you to understand why you are here, what you need to do to become a better person, and also to recognize your purpose in life.
The crucial part of life is to know yourself, because 100 percent of your life consists of you and your interactions with yourself and with the world. We often neglect this important point and spend endless energy analyzing others. The real education starts with self-analysis. So if you can replace the time that you spend thinking about others analyzing yourself, I assure you your life will never be the same.
Be a serious student in learning about this important subject called “you.”
Start today, start with small steps. Every day, make a habit of spending an hour with yourself working on these three things:
- Appreciating things that you are grateful for in your life.
- Revising your day mentally, thinking about how you would spend the day if you were given a chance to live it again.
- Thinking about what good things you want to do before you leave this world that will positively impact others’ lives.
Add your own thoughts to this list if you wish.
Soon you will find your purpose and enough inspiration to change your life forever.
Venkateswarlu Kadiveti is a student in the International Dentist Program.
