What has been the most important lesson(s) you have learned in your life?

[sebas531]

Everyday I try to do some changes in order to have a better life. I would like to know what has been the most important lesson(s) that pf members have learned throught their lifes.

 

[Danger]

No matter how drunk you are, never piss on an electric fence.

 

[leon1127]

try to study the night b4 the test when you are drunk may just work!

actually that is not true at all. I failed my test.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Results are usually a direct measure of effort.

 

[Rach3]

Results are usually a direct measure of effort.

That is very true. It always follows the general law, results*effort=constant.

 

[theCandyman]

Always listen to your parents. Not for everyone, but mine were usually always correct.

 

[BobG]

That is very true. It always follows the general law, results*effort=constant.

Erm, that would make results inversely proportional to effort.

Enough courage to face the difficult issues in life. Enough fear of the difficult issues in life to make sure you know what you're doing before you face them.

Edit: Oh, and to echo Candyman, always listen to your parents. They're usually right. (This is something that seems to have developed only over the last twenty years - perhaps humans are evolving faster than we think? )

 

[Astronuc]

Perhaps Results = f(Effort).

 

[heartless]

Perhaps Results = f(Effort).

Perhaps Results = f(Effort)
(Perhaps Results)/Effort = f
Results/Effort = f
Results/Effort = time?
dunno. (yeah, what is f?)
Astronuc, help solve the equation :)

 

[wolram]

If you get out of bed in the morning, you have to do some thing.

 

[SimplySolitary_]

To not decide is to decide.

 

[Cyrus]

Don't let people push you around, ever.

And what Ivan said too.

 

[franznietzsche]

Edit: Oh, and to echo Candyman, always listen to your parents. They're usually right. (This is something that seems to have developed only over the last twenty years - perhaps humans are evolving faster than we think? )

You don't believe in things because they're true. You believe in things because for you they are worth believing in. That is the nature of belief.

 

[Echo 6 Sierra]

Your problems are your own. Don't expect anyone to help you solve them. If someone DOES help you, make sure and show your gratitude and be sincere about it.

Eat crow when it's warm.

Be mindful of what you say and do. The guy I... I mean someone yelled at for taking his time crossing the street as you screech into the parking lot because you are late for class might be next semesters Calc2 Prof.

 

[GCT]

You don't believe in things because they're true. You believe in things because for you they are worth believing in. That is the nature of belief.

A big downside of belief is that it involves being blindsided to some extent, which can be detrimental. Especially on a smaller scale (not for example, the issue of the existence of God). People who have truly learned the lesson of life should be familiar with this lesson. That is belief is ultimately dangerous, but it is necessary to live, to have a purpose of some sort (however, short lived).

As for the "bigger scale aspect" of belief, make sure that it's not infatuation.

 

[Evo]

To trust my instincts and not be pressured into doing something I know I'm not ready for. Just learned that lesson.

 

[Chi Meson]

If you are making a major decision, and a little voice is saying "no," listen to it.

Losing your temper means you "lost." Never berate anyone, no matter how "right" you are.

Take a healthy interest in other people's doings.

 

[Astronuc]

Perhaps Results = f(Effort)
(Perhaps Results)/Effort = f
Results/Effort = f
Results/Effort = time?
dunno. (yeah, what is f?)
Astronuc, help solve the equation :)

Results = f(Effort) should be read 'Results equals (is) a function f of Effort", or "f maps effort into results". I am not up on the formalisms of mathematical language.

For me math is pretty much a tool which I use to grind the answer out of the data.

 

[heartless]

Results = f(Effort) should be read 'Results equals (is) a function f of Effort", or "f maps effort into results". I am not up on the formalisms of mathematical language.

For me math is pretty much a tool which I use to grind the answer out of the data.

f(Effort) = Results
No matter how much effort you put, you're going to get results perhaps?
Oh Astronuc, decipher this for me. I can't, with my dumb math skills.

 

[BobG]

You don't believe in things because they're true. You believe in things because for you they are worth believing in. That is the nature of belief.

A big downside of belief is that it involves being blindsided to some extent, which can be detrimental. Especially on a smaller scale (not for example, the issue of the existence of God). People who have truly learned the lesson of life should be familiar with this lesson. That is belief is ultimately dangerous, but it is necessary to live, to have a purpose of some sort (however, short lived).

As for the "bigger scale aspect" of belief, make sure that it's not infatuation.

Maybe yes, maybe no.

A person should at least know what things they believe in just out of faith and what things they believe in because of experience and logic. No matter how long you analyze some things, you wind up stuck on arguments based on personal values rather objective evidence. I think those are the type of things the author of the quote was referring to.

Of course, if a person believes in something just because they were trained to believe in it and can't remember ever not believing in it, then there are some rather obvious pitfalls. People can ignore some pretty obvious evidence for those types of beliefs.

 

[cronxeh]

Results = k*F(Effort) + c*F(Effort/t)

where k is the race/background, and c is the type of a job, and t is time

 

[larkspur]

Tomorrow is not guaranteed no matter how young you are...I learned that lesson the hard way.

 

[Zygotic Embryo]

Lifes to short

 

[Bladibla]

That great achievements is always up to perserverence, hard work and consistency in quality.

Also that in science, the way to not become a hogwash is to allow experiments guide you every step of the way.

Oh, and that NOTHING should be a joke.

 

[Rach3]

Also that in science, the way to not become a hogwash is to allow experiments guide you every step of the way.

What should the theorists do, despair?

 

[SpaceTiger]

Never underestimate the power of hard work.

 

[selfAdjoint]

Heaven is other people.

(note: this means actual people you are with. Correspondents don't count).

 

[DeadWolfe]

Expect perfection from yourself, and miserable failure from those around you.

 

[franznietzsche]

A big downside of belief is that it involves being blindsided to some extent, which can be detrimental. Especially on a smaller scale (not for example, the issue of the existence of God). People who have truly learned the lesson of life should be familiar with this lesson. That is belief is ultimately dangerous, but it is necessary to live, to have a purpose of some sort (however, short lived).

Thats only blind belief. You misunderstand me completely. I said that one should believe in things worth believing in, not things one knows to be true. This implies that one knows there is a perfectly good chance your beliefs are wrong, and you acknowledge this, but believe them anyway because they are worthwhile.

I believe I can accomplaish anything I choose to. Not because I actually can, but because doing so motivates me to at least try.

 

[GCT]

Thats only blind belief. You misunderstand me completely. I said that one should believe in things worth believing in, not things one knows to be true. This implies that one knows there is a perfectly good chance your beliefs are wrong, and you acknowledge this, but believe them anyway because they are worthwhile.

good point, that's another way to put it. One needs believe in order to be motivated, belief is what provides the direction, the extended motivation for things. However, its a weakness, and I think that one comes to realize this sufficiently depending one's capabilities.

We have to believe to some degree to move forward. One has to base his/her strategy in what he/she believes to be true, but there isn't a single strategy that will ever work. That this there's a lot of room for improvement, but it comes with experience.

To believe in something is to always be blindsided to some aspect, no matter how small of a belief it may be. This is one of the many important lessons I've established upon graduating from college (undergrad).

And thus I should stop arguing about this topic before it creeps up on me to become established as a stronger belief:)

 

[GCT]

To trust my instincts and not be pressured into doing something I know I'm not ready for. Just learned that lesson.

Yeah, I've learned just how important this point is. We all want a more excitement out of life, and when other people's comments go somewhat along the lines with our own expectations as well as fears, it becomes very easy to do something completely stupid. It's tempting at times, especially if life doesn't turn out that perfectly, one can become tempted to make a irrational and dangerous move, especially if one is quick tempered.

If you are making a major decision, and a little voice is saying "no," listen to it.

Losing your temper means you "lost." Never berate anyone, no matter how "right" you are.

Take a healthy interest in other people's doings.

this is another one I can relate to.

 

[brewnog]

Don't be pressured into making a promise you can't keep

Honesty and curiosity are undervalued assets

What goes around comes around

Never accept without first questioning

First impressions count

All girls are evil

If you don't get hangovers you're not drinking enough

 

[wolram]

Covet those that deliver what you want, and pour fire and brim stone over those that do not.

 

[Leah]

I've learned that expensive things eventually break. It takes a lot of work to keep things running. If you're not willing to do the work to fix it, then don't buy it.

 

[sebas531]

Well, I was reading a thread and I read this guy's story and I thought it woudl be nice to post it here.

Good luck, but are you sure you want to do Medicine?

Think hard. I'm not discouraging you, I just want you to be sure you're doing something you really love and want to toil at for the rest of your life. I kind of went with what my parents wanted for me, and I've regretted it nearly every day since. I've left Clinical Medicine now and am doing something more lab related. That's what happens to a lot of bright guys who enter Med for the wrong reasons - they end up in Pathology or Radiology, or leave Medicine entirely, which is a great waste of time.

I know I'd be a lot happier if I had pursued a career rooted in the Physical Sciences instead. I had admission to Caltech to do Elect Engineering, but decided to make my parents happy by entering Medicine locally. Big mistake.

 

[Curious3141]

Well, I was reading a thread and I read this guy's story and I thought it woudl be nice to post it here.

The lesson can be condensed into : "Try and follow your heart wherever possible. If you're reasonably intelligent, there's no reason you cannot make a living doing what you love."

 

[Tzemach]

Everyday you start out with 86400 seconds to use, the ones you lose you never get back.

Which is another way of restating one of my favorite quotes.

Life is not lost by dying, life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways.
-Stephen Vincent Bent

 

[Artman]

I have a few:

Life is not fair.

No one owes you a living.

Brush your teeth every day.

Cheer up. No one wants to hang around a gloomy person.

Clean oil is cheaper than a new engine (at least at the time of this writing).

 

[brewnog]

At risk of turning this into a thread of Yorkshire proverbs, I have one which I try to remember whenever making a big decision:

Where there's muck, there's brass.

In fact, it's time for a new signature.

 

[Astronuc]

“Treat life as a workshop to find out who you are”
http://www.odemagazine.com/article.php?aID=4296

Start the morning with a , and don't go to be angry or sad.

 

[Gale]

have faith in your future.

know what you want.

when you're upset with someone, feel sorry for them instead of yourself.

 

[heartless]

I think that the most important lesson I will learn will be just before my death. It usually is the time when people begin to realize and learn.
So far I've learned to avoid evil, friends (as the same people who you hang out with almost every single day.)
I also learned to don't require anything from life.
To experience life and like it as it is.
I've also learned to don't get angry at people who have done something wrong or are angry at you too.
I think these are the most important lessons I've learned so far.

 

[turbo]

If you do not lie, you don't have to remember the lies so you can repeat them later. If you always tell the truth, your mind is clear to tackle other more important things.

The Golden Rule is real ethics. Morality is ethics on lies (this is your ethics on drugs). The ethical man does what is right. The moral man does what he thinks his god will let him get away with. God has a really warm place set aside for moral men.

Ben Franklin said that if you love life, you shouldn't waste time, because time is what life is made of. Try to do productive things (even little productive things) all through the day. Do them in a way that makes the best use of your time, and you will find the time to do more.

Take time to reflect, and take time to spend with your family. Nobody ever died saying "I wish I spent more time at work". Remember that the younger people and the older people in your family may be undergoing stresses that are different from yours. You may be able to help a lot, even with a tiny bit of effort. Try.

 

[Gabrielle]

Not to take life too seriously.

 

[Pengwuino]

I'm always right, even when I'm wrong

 

[Astronuc]

I've been giving this more thought, and I find that there are many lessons - some big and others small.

One lesson distilled from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is Zaphod's First Principle -

"The basic business of life is to have a wonderfully good time, while not allowing anyone else or anything to deflect, divert or distract one from having a wonderfully good time."

 

[BobG]

Don't throw your old fan belt away (assuming you check your belts and replace them before they break). You can slip it under the back seat or in the trunk for an emergency.

 

[Astronuc]

Don't throw your old fan belt away (assuming you check your belts and replace them before they break). You can slip it under the back seat or in the trunk for an emergency.

Or keep one pantyhose in the glove compartment, just in case. It's the next best thing to a towel.

Oh, and

DON'T PANIC

 

[Galileo]

To not let events that are outside of your range of influence affect you negatively.
To take responsibility for your own happiness. To not let your happiness depend on outside events or other people. To realize that you are able to handle anything life throws at you and that you are in ultimate control of how you let things affect you emotionally and how you act in any given situation.

 

[sebas531]

To not let events that are outside of your range of influence affect you negatively.
To take responsibility for your own happiness. To not let your happiness depend on outside events or other people. To realize that you are able to handle anything life throws at you and that you are in ultimate control of how you let things affect you emotionally and how you act in any given situation.

Good advice. I will be quoting you in the future.