You’ve got to ask yourself—how many times have you missed a valuable lesson in life because you were too distracted by who was delivering it? That’s the core of the lesson. We get so caught up in our own egos, so concerned with appearances or tone, that we forget what’s really important. It’s not about where the truth comes from. It’s not about how it’s delivered, or whether it came from someone you respect or someone who rubbed you the wrong way. What matters is the truth itself—the lesson life is trying to teach you in that moment.
You’ve been here before. You’ve had those moments where someone says something that stings, something that challenges you, and instead of reflecting on what’s being said, you focus on the messenger. You tell yourself, “Who are they to tell me this?” or “They didn’t have to say it like that.” But the reality is, you’re missing the lesson. You’re missing an opportunity for growth because you’re more worried about your ego than about what you can learn.
It’s human nature to get defensive. We all do it. But think about it—what if you stopped letting your ego get in the way? What if you paused and asked yourself, “What can I take from this? How can this help me grow?” That’s where the lesson lies, not in the who or the how, but in the what. The truth is, you can learn something from almost any situation, if you’re willing to look past the surface.
You’ve probably heard harsh words from a boss or a partner that made you feel defensive. Maybe you felt like they didn’t have the right to criticize you. Maybe you focused on their tone, or their attitude, or the fact that they didn’t understand the whole situation. But none of that really matters. What matters is the lesson. If you’re too busy picking apart the messenger, you’ll never get to the core of what life is trying to show you.
This is where you get in your own way. You let your pride, your ego, your need to feel right cloud your ability to learn. It’s like you’re holding onto the idea that the lesson doesn’t count if it’s delivered in a way you don’t like. But that’s not how life works. Life’s lessons come in all forms, and more often than not, they’re not wrapped in pretty packages. They’re raw, uncomfortable, and sometimes delivered by people you don’t want to hear from. But here’s the thing: those uncomfortable truths are often the ones that push you the most, that force you to grow.
Let’s be real—who cares where this life lesson is coming from? Who cares if it’s from someone you don’t particularly like, or someone you think doesn’t have it all together themselves? What does it matter if the lesson comes from a pink pig? Who even cares if that pig is wearing a green vest? Who cares? What’s important is the lesson, and how you can grow from this. If you’re truly committed to becoming a better version of yourself, you’ve got to let go of the distractions. The messenger doesn’t matter. What matters is whether or not you’re willing to accept the lesson, even if it’s not delivered in the way you expected.
The next time life throws you a difficult interaction, take a step back. Resist the urge to focus on the person delivering the message, or how it’s making you feel in the moment. Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this? What is the lesson here?” Because that’s where the real growth happens—when you stop letting your ego run the show and start embracing the uncomfortable truths. That’s when the lesson truly sinks in, and that’s when you begin to move forward in life.
The bottom line is this: you can choose to stay stuck, blaming the messengers, picking apart their flaws, and letting your ego lead you. Or you can choose to focus on the lesson and see what life is trying to teach you. The choice is always yours.
About the author:
Tony Jarrah is an Author from Melbourne, Australia.
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