Quote-A-Day: Day 176

That mountain might be just as high the second time, but remember, you've already climbed it once. #QuoteADay #Day176 #NeverGiveUp #edchat

While some challenges never seem to get any easier, no matter how many times we face them, we should take some solace in the fact that once we’ve already had experience with something, even if it doesn’t seem so, there are a number of benefits we need to realize.

First, simply by experiencing an issue multiple times, we get better at identifying the situation and better at responding to it.  Though dealing with loss (either physically or emotionally) may never be fun or easy, we can become more prepared for it.  Over time, we know what to expect, how to prepare ourselves and others, and how to move forward after the fact.

Second, in some cases, by climbing the mountain once before, we can decide whether to climb it again.  The data we’ve gained and the analysis we’ve done may tell us that we can’t afford to climb the mountain again, or that instead of climbing it, we can simply circle the base and get to where we need to go.

Finally, taking on the same challenge multiple times builds resolve and encourages reflection.  Life isn’t easy for anyone, and in the realm of education, life can be extremely hard.  Being resolute is a necessity for leaders and learners, and the only way to build that skill is through practice and perseverance.  In addition, one of the best ways for us to learn to reflect is by experiencing something more than once.  When we reflect on previous reflections, we actually become more effective at thinking back and making decisions.

Whether you decide to climb the mountain only once or fifty times, the sheer fact that you’ve done it once better prepares you to make decisions when faced with the challenge again.