I’m not talking about merely shooting hoops or kicking a ball into the back of a net, but learning, training, practicing, mental preparing, focusing, reading your teammates, reading your opponents, strategizing, thinking on your feet, trusting your instincts, digging deep, going the extra mile, 102%, playing through pain, pushing your limits, seizing the moment, and flowing.

I learned a lot about time management through training at 5am for Junior Olympics and then going to high school and doing my homework on planes and buses so I could hang out with my friends.

Communication. I learned communication skills through leading five other guys on a court and having to get everyone on the same page in a matter of seconds. Public Speaking. I knew exactly what to do during my student council speeches to 2,500 of my peers because I previously had to perform at my highest level before thousands of eyes watching at national competitions.

Psychology. I learned to understand how others thought, functioned, and operate by glancing at my teammates or opponents and knowing exactly what their next five actions, then acting on it. I learned to stay present through all the distractions and just flow. I learned to get back up when I had been knocked down again and again. I learned how to do push-ups until I couldn’t physically move, and then at that point, I would do 10 more.

Following your passion. I’ve traveled the world playing volleyball, met some the greatest people one could possibly meet in life along the way, but the entire time, I was doing it because it was my passion. I loved to play the game. I started playing the game without telling anyone. I simply walked into the try-outs after school on a hunch and fell in love.

These have been just a few of my lessons. You can’t learn everything from competitive sports, but applying the lessons you learn to the other areas of your life has an immense impact. For more reading on competitive sports and applying them to your life, read Josh Waitzkin’s “The Art of Learning”.

Actually, philosophy is the one topic I regret not adding to that list. It should have been in the top 3!

Interesting list. I agree with the fact that there are a few things that would really help if you approached the subject in a more structured matter. However some things you kind of have to learn by trial and error and thus very little theory helps. So also combine the list with life lessons that you can expose yourself to as early as possible would also help. Like living in a different country.

Anyway, I think if you could add references and books to these subjects you would help the readers to quickly find good material to learn also.
Mats

I’ve been subscribed to your feed for about 3 months now. I also follow other blogs on self-actualization/productivity/personal development. Props for the consistently original posts man!

Alright, after that bit of ass kissing ( ;p ), back on topic:

I’d expand “World Religions” into just “World Philosophies”. Reading stuff from Nietzsche, Buddha, or Plato helped me understand a lot about how the world came to be as it is right now, and also a lot about the things that I value in my life.

Communication – I like this one. I’d argue it’s the most important one. You can get educated about the other 6 if you’re good at communicating.

An awesome book I’m reading right now about communication is “Never Eat Alone” – it totally redefined my perception of how important it is to build a network of people around you.

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How did you learn to debate in a healthy way? My problem is that I’ll sometimes just nod my head and agree with the other person just to avoid getting into a yelling contest.

What ties all of the above topics together is one’s inclination for multidimensional growth. In that case I don’t think we can leave out self-observation — the ability to watch one’s own thought processes, mental/behavioral patterns, and emotions. That’d be Eckhart Tolle way of putting it. Or to use Ilya Prigogine’s terms, the ability to let one’s self escape into a higher order when inputs (new life experiences, stresses, trauma) have exceeded one’s ability to dissipate entropy, forcing him/her into the bifurcation point. Or in layman’s terms, it’d be the ability to “stick it out” in times of difficulty, knowing that better times would come.

By the way, it’d be super if we would be allowed to make changes to our posts – I know it’d be a pretty big hassle technology-wise but I always get so paranoid about spelling errors and such whenever I post things here.

If you understand water cycles (the weather, drinking water), soil cycles, the way plants filter chemicals, how ecosystems work, you can make choices which not only protect your own well-being but protect the future sustainability of the planet. For a simple example, you’d know not to build your house on eroding soil, and to clear brush in fire season. For more complex ones, you’d know not to support water subsidies, and understand why the Endangered Species Act is not working.

A good working knowledge of chemistry is also pretty valuable.

Under psychology I would put love. Yes a course on how to love, how to love yourself, how to listen with compassion, how to keep your heart open, how to forgive and move on, how to express love in all areas of your life, how to heal all problems with love, how to make the world a better place through love and many other aspects of love.

It seems to me ultimately where are here to express love and to enjoy life.

I write about self-development, purpose, passion, peace, progressive ideas and of course about love at my blog.

Joseph Bernard, Ph.D.
http://www.ExploreLifeBlog.com
http://www.Peace-Together.com