As an adolescent, I was blessed on many different occasions with the opportunity to be mentored. I can say proudly that I am where I am today because of the guidance that many individuals have given me as a young man. Today I will share with you a few things that I have learned from being apart of a mentoring relationship.
1. Never Underestimate the Importance of a Good Plan.
I've always been a "Go with the flow" kind of guy but in my adolescence I learned that it can be very important for a young man to have a plan with his life. There is beauty in scheduling your tasks. There is utility in having a proper aim in your life. There is abundance in creating healthy goals for yourself. A good plan will set you up to have purpose in your life. I don't just mean make a to-do list and try your hardest to remain productive and on task. That can be important but it's deeper than just listing what needs to get done.
Ask yourself "If I could have the best life for me, what would that look like?" Think upon it deeply. Meditate on it. Ask other's that you trust for their point-of-view on the question. And once that is all said and done, begin to map out your life. It will shock you how satisfying it is to define the purpose in your life!
2. There is Nothing Wrong With Being Unique
There was a point when I was in school where I was struggling to fit in. I was worried that I was too different from everyone around me. This was something that made me begin to doubt myself. However, one of my mentors had a very real talk with me whici eliminated that discouragement in mylife over time. I really appreciated what he said to me. He told me that we are all unique human beings with gifts, talents, skills, likes & dislikes that make us who we are. This is what makes you who you are! He share a quote with me that I still tell myself today:
"Those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter".
This changed my life when I sat down and thought about it. No one should ever feel discouraged about who they are as a person. We all are different in some way, and this allows us to do things are own way. Whether you are a writer, an athlete or a lawyer, nobody will ever be able to do what you do the way that you do it! I learned that by embracing my uniqueness, I could fully pursue my purpose in life. Which has led to me being happy in all that I do.
3. When Others Speak, Make Sure That you are Listening
One of my mentors showed me the power of truly listening to people when they speak. Learning can take many forms. One of the best ways to learn more about anything is to actually listen to people when they speak to you. It will surprise you how much wisdom will manifest itself in your life if you give the world a listening ear. Do not be deaf to advice when it comes your way because you never know when you may need to lean on your own understanding. Then the question becomes:
"If most people struggle with really listening, then how do you remain intentional to hear people out when they speak?"
The answer is that when you are talking to someone, assume that they know something that you are not aware of. This changed my life! This made me realize that the world is my mentor. I became aware to the fact that every situation & interaction in my life is an opportunity to learn. It takes a certain type of person to be able to extract wisdom from their daily life. I try now to make it my mission to do exactly that.
I am thankful ad blessed from my experiences as a mentee. It's crazy to think that as an adult, I still have a healthy relationship with my childhood mentors. To anyone that is considering being a mentee or mentor. I challenge you to be open to the process. You will find that it will be a beautiful addition to your life journey.
~ FA Santt
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