20 Skills And Qualities You Need To Become A Spiritually Aware Lifelong Learner

Most people instinctively think of religion when they encounter the word spirituality. That makes them sceptical about the whole subject. Others think of wild-haired, heavily-bearded, weirdly dressed and chanting people. Even though the latter is true to an extent, it only proves that spirituality is subjective. You don’t have to dress or talk a certain way unless you want to.

I must be clear that you don’t have to be religious to be spiritual, before moving on. In today’s world spirituality is broad, and there’s no single definition for it. I believe we’re a part of and made from something bigger than us. I call this higher power, God. There are other terms for this higher power; Universal Intelligence, Divine Oneness, Life Force, Infinite Energy, Pure Consciousness and many more. The underlying premise is somewhat the same. Your purpose is revealed to you when you’re in harmony with your higher self. I believe in helping others, curiosity, creativity and wisdom. These things help me in my spiritual journey.

The interconnectedness of our humanness is needed because society is becoming increasingly self-destructive. At the same time, more people seem to be awakening spiritually, which makes it even more mind-boggling. We need to work exhaustively on ourselves (spiritually). That will enable us to see the importance of others. We’re all the same and can achieve the greater good collectively.   

The following 20 skills and qualities make up the essence of a Lifelong Learner Lifestyle, and all of them can be learned or cultivated.

Adaptability

Flexibility is another way of putting it. In this fast-paced and ever-changing world, you must be able to adjust to new conditions. Be open to change and stop complaining because technology is not waiting for anyone to catch up. When you develop a growth mindset, you become better prepared for new challenges.  “Action and adaptability create opportunity.’ Garrison Wynn

Ambition

Lack of ambition means a lack of motivation and enthusiasm. You must have a strong desire and perseverance to achieve your dreams. Don’t listen to the naysayers. In other words, self-determination is a factor in becoming successful. “Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.’ Walter H. Cottingham

Collaboration

Every successful person in this world has worked with other people at some point in their lives. Collaboration helps build rapport and can also aid in spiritual growth. It allows you to map out your strengths and weaknesses. What are you bringing to the table? What do you need? Two heads are better than one. “Alone we can do so little together we can do so much.’ Helen Keller

Communication

It’s almost impossible to achieve anything worthwhile in life without good communication skills. You must be able to share ideas and feelings effectively through reading, writing, speaking and listening. The ability to use communication technologies (computers, telephones and wireless networks etc.) is also imperative. “The art of communication is the language of leadership.’ James C. Humes

Compassion

We build a better world to live in by caring and loving others and all living things on the planet. Compassion brings us closer together and to our higher selves. It’s a catalyst to spiritual awakening. We’re opening our hearts to others, nature, and the universe. “Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength.’ Dalai Lama

Courage

We must stand up for what we believe in and be able to overpower pain and grief. Courage does not only refer to physical strength and forbearance but also mental resilience and revolution. “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who feels afraid, but he who conquers that fear.’ Nelson Mandela

Creativity

Other words for creativity are innovation and imagination. It’s a pity a lot of people aren’t aware that every human being is creative. I’m just not that creative – sound familiar? We’re all unique and have innate talents. “The important thing for you is to be alert, to question, to find out, so that your initiative may be awakened.’ Bruce Lee

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is an integral part of being a lifelong learner because it enhances your logical reasoning capabilities. Lifelong Learner Lifestyle encourages self-directed projects and personal development. You can reflect, analyse and plan when you have critical thinking skills. “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.’ Albert Einstein

Curiosity

They say necessity is the mother of invention, but I believe curiosity makes for a coherent argument. You can only achieve a lifelong learning lifestyle if you’re curious.  You must accumulate knowledge, and you must also be comfortable with uncertainty. “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.’ Dorothy Parker

Discipline

To bring structure and stability to your life and live a lifelong learner lifestyle, you need discipline. Most successful people on the planet are well-disciplined, but a lot of talented people have crumbled from the lack of it. It teaches us to be respectful and responsible both internally and externally. “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.’ Jim Rohn

Emotional Intelligence

Some academics say that emotional intelligence is the key to professional and personal success. It’s about recognising and managing your emotions as well as other people’s emotions. The ability to cheer up or calm down other people when necessary is commendable. “If you’re tuned out of your own emotions, you’ll be poor at reading them in other people.’ Daniel Goleman

Emotional Resilience

Life is going to knock you about, that’s a given, and how you deal with the ups and downs is what defines you. Being connected to your spiritual side also helps to cultivate emotional resilience. “If you have high self-esteem, you might still know times of emotional suffering, but less often and with faster recovery – your resilience is greater.’ Nathaniel Branden

Empathy

Like compassion, empathy is another “gateway” practice to spiritual awakening. It’s the ability to feel other people’s emotions or placing yourself in another’s position. Pure empathy is a divine state of interconnectedness – becoming one with all things in the universe. “When you start to develop your powers of empathy and imagination, the whole world opens up to you.’ Susan Sarandon

Gratitude

Being thankful and showing appreciation makes you a happier and healthier person. Gratitude helps you to get rid of the ego and leads you into the direct path of spiritual growth. It also strengthens your emotions and triggers positive feedback loops. “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.’ Willie Nelson

Information Management

We’re living in the information age, and you must learn how to decipher which information is useful to you. You must learn how to collect, store and disseminate information for business or personal purposes. Information management is imperative if you want to succeed.“As a general rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the best information.’ Benjamin Disraeli

Leadership

Leaders help themselves and others to do the right things. Each one, teach one and always be the one to initiate positive change. Uplift yourself and uplift others. Honesty, integrity and making others feel safe are vital attributes of being a good leader. “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a moulder of consensus.’ Martin Luther King Jr

Meditation

Meditation is taming the mind to see your thoughts more clearly. It is both a skill and an experience that enables us to have direct involvement with the here and now. “Meditation brings wisdom, lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.’ Buddha

Problem Solving

Most companies are searching for people who have good problem-solving skills. These skills are also extremely beneficial in everyday life. Problem-solving is the ability to identify or define a problem and then finding solutions through generic or ad hoc methods. “A sum can be put right: but only by going back till you find the error and working it afresh from that point, never by simply going on.’ C.S. Lewis

Reflection

This process supports and reinforces learning. Every person must be able to reflect (not dwell blindly) on anything if they wish to progress in life. It’s about looking at situations and dissecting them to see how you can improve or tackle them if they were to happen again. “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.’ Søren Kierkegaard

Self-Awareness

By knowing yourself (your feelings, thoughts, actions, strengths and weaknesses) you have better discernment of your learning needs and the path to take in life. Self-aware people have better psychological health and a positive outlook on life. “Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.’ C.G. Jung

Spiritual awareness and lifelong learning are pathways to unlocking the infinite possibilities and opportunities in the universe. They nourish the mind, body and spirit and clarify the notion of oneness. Decide to become a spiritually aware lifelong learner today.