Graduate school was one of my best and most challenging experiences. I met some amazing people and learned so much about the counseling profession. A lot of what I learned didn’t just apply to the counseling profession, though. Much of it applied to everyday life and made me a better person. As you walk through life, consider the below takeaways from graduate school and how you might be able to use them in your life.
3 Takeaways from Graduate School that Everyone Should Know
- Everyone has a different worldview. During my first session with a client, I explain this to them so they understand why I ask so many questions about them. Everyone has a different worldview (Colin Ward, PhD). Everyone sees things differently, experiences things differently, and feels things differently. We are not all the same. Walking through life with this understanding can help reduce judgment of others and offers space for more empathy. If you judge someone (we all do it), challenge it by reminding yourself that everyone has a different worldview. Notice how that changes your thinking about that person and how you feel about yourself.
- Not every thought we have is true. How many of the 6,000 plus thoughts we have daily do you think are true (Healthline, 2022)? While there isn’t research to offer a specific number, most people experience untrue thoughts, negative thoughts, and sometimes intrusive thoughts daily. Notice your thoughts throughout the day. If you notice a thought that isn’t true, try to challenge it. If you want to learn more about how to challenge negative thoughts, click here.
- It’s okay not to know. It is so hard to say, “I don’t know.” But with practice, it gets easier. Nobody knows everything, and if we don’t admit that we don’t know, we won’t learn. I used to view saying “I don’t know” as embarrassing. Now, I view it as a strength and a motivator to learn. If you are in a situation where someone is talking about something you don’t know, and you want to nod your head and agree, even though you don’t know what they are talking about, challenge yourself to say, “I don’t know.” Notice what happens next. How did it feel to say, “I don’t know?” How did the other person react? Notice your thoughts about it. Did it feel better or worse to say “I don’t know” verse pretending you knew something you didn’t?
Conclusion
The above takeaways from graduate school can be applied to everyday life. They can help you challenge unhelpful behaviors, view things differently, and be a better version of yourself. Reflect on how you could use one or all of these takeaways in your life. You got this.
References
Healthline. (2022). How many thoughts do you have each day? And other things to think about. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-many-thoughts-per-day