The Teacher And The Student

The student often seeks out the teacher in an attempt to fill a gap, expand their curiosity, learn a new skill, hone their craft, or to find their passion. It all starts with a question about the future. Not always "who am I" but "who do I want to become". We need to define our edges, and then seek to move beyond them. We attend college, we go to a clinic or class on oil painting, we watch a TED talk or attend a seminar on gardening; we seek out an expert in the field in which we hold an interest in increasing our understanding. 

At some point in the process of seeking, learning, transforming, we may begin to view our teacher differently, which can impact the experience we have, as well as the quality and depth of the learning we are provided.  What we fail to realize many times as the student is that we are also the teacher, and the teacher is a student. We are always giving and receiving information through our observations of the environment and the way we translate that information regardless of the dynamic you hold with the other person in that moment. 

Where we tend to fail as teachers, leaders, and mentors is when we choose to push past those moments of learning that are offered to us through the eyes of our students, colleagues and employees. When we close down that part of our mind which remains always curious and observant of the world around us, we miss out on the opportunity to challenge our current view, to stretch our imagination towards what could be possible. 

The student reminds the teacher what it is like to learn and be curious about the world around them, and the teacher reminds the student what it is like to hold knowledge they seek to improve their understanding of the world around them. 

If the student doesn't align with the teacher, then they often move on in search of someone who resonates with where they are in that time and space, or simply shut down, refusing to take what they can from the lesson. If the teacher doesn't align with the student they often push harder on the student or give up on them altogether. 

What I seek to reinforce here is an understanding that regardless of the situation in which you find yourself, if you stay open and curious, whether the teacher or the student, in alignment with the dynamic between you or not, there is always something to teach, and there is always something to learn.  The lesson of learning what doesn't resonate with you is as valuable as the lesson of finding what does.  The lesson of sharing your knowledge with those who you do not feel you are connecting with is as valuable as those moments when you are teaching someone who fully aligns with the lesson.  We cannot only invest in the learning of those who we feel understand and skip over or give up on those who are not catching on as we miss the true lesson that can be found in the experience for ourselves: what is being mirrored back to me in the behavior of the other person which I cannot align with? What is it within myself that needs focus? What lesson am I being taught?

When we lose our curiosity and fail to broaden our gaze, self-reflect, or seek the lesson; we are no longer the student, but more importantly we are also no longer the teacher. 

If it has been awhile since you viewed the world through the eyes of a student, I would strongly encourage you to learn a new skill - from the very beginning. Then, see what you can learn, but also what you can teach about how to be a student. Open, curious, dedicated, willing to try, willing to struggle, willing to "fail" - and then try again.  I would challenge you to seek out a teacher which you may not align with, as well as one you do. Learn a new perspective, and how to navigate those situations in which you would normally want to shut down, shut off, and dismiss. Be open, be curious. 

I want to also circle back to the word Failure. Did you really fail, or did you learn? Did you miss the desired target? Perhaps, but did you also gain knowledge in the process? Then it was not a useless endeavor, but an opportunity.  If it is fear of failure that holds you back, I would invite you to shift your perspective to possibility and "what can this teach me".

To truly be a master of our craft, to teach others, we must also be the student, and we must look to our students to teach us where we still need to learn.

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If you are interested in being a student of my leadership program I am always happy to teach, and I would love to learn from you :). You can reach me at: Sonia@Spirit2Spirit.org,  on Facebook, Instagram, or Website: www.spirit2spirit.org to sign up for our contact list to receive updates on programs and other news. 

In Good Health,

Sonia

Social: @Spirit2SpiritEFHC

Website: www.Spirit2Spirit.org