Learning to See

By Coach Frank Sagasta 

I am 45 years old and I have seen somethings in my short lifespan.  Here are 20 short lessons I wish I knew at 17 though.  I hope (Hearing, Other, Peoples, Experiences) you take heed towards those that align with you today.  And learn to see from a different perspective!! 

1. Human potential is nearly limitless—With God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.  

2. Personal growth is the highest priority, and it must be done with intention or conviction. 

3. You can acquire new skills, in any area, at any time.  If you are looking in the right place.  

4. It requires focus and discipline to acquire new skills.  This focus comes from your mental ability to master your inner-self. 

5. You can do anything you set your mind to, without limitation.  The only requirement is that you don’t allow outside noise to disturb you. 

6. We do, and believe, that which empowers us.  What the mind can conceive and believe.  It can achieve. 

7. It doesn't matter who you are today.  It only matters who you want to become tomorrow, and how hard you are willing to work to become that person.  You must sacrifice who you are today to be the person you want to be tomorrow.  It is that simple. 

8. See beyond your current self to the opportunity of becoming the best version of yourself.  Always check in with yourself in the mirror and analyze the areas that need improvement. 

9. Mistakes are a great teacher to those who are willing to admit that they've made one.  this one is about character and take it responsibility. 

10. Share the lessons learned from your mistakes.  this helps to lock in your memory and it is also a part of reciprocity. 

11. Failure is temporary.  Move quickly beyond it.  How long are you stay in failure mode the more depressed and anxiety arise.

12. Everyone has something to teach you.  Learn from those that have experience, education, and sound wisdom.  

13. Do not make excuses.  Create results are more satisfying.  

14. Any obstacle can be overcome.  It takes UNCOMMON GRIT!! 

15. Build your self-esteem around identifying the right answer and pursuing it faster than anyone else.

16. Have VERY clear goals.  And take action daily on them with INTENTION. 

17. Passion will help you keep fighting to reach your goals when things get difficult.  Center your life around faith, passion, intention, and commitment. 

18. We motivate and inspire those around us.

19. Stay away from negative people.  They have a problem for every solution.  Their vision for life starts with their own misery. 

20. Be careful when you follow the masses, sometimes the m is silent.  Asses smell like shit.  You should be able to identify them immediately. 

All of life is filled with challenges.  These challenges come in all shapes and sizes, and we often hear them described as situations, circumstances, trials, struggles, or simply challenges.  No matter the word, the core experience remains: life tests us.  But what if the true test isn’t just the challenge itself, but how we choose to see it?  Learning to see is the art of seeing differently — Learning to see is more than just using our eyes.  It’s about shifting our perspective, mindset, and opening ourselves up to new ways of understanding the world.  This skill—seeing life from a different angle—can transform obstacles into opportunities for growth. 

Gandhi: Seeing Peace in the Face of Conflict Mahatma Gandhi faced enormous struggles in his quest for India’s independence.  Where others saw insurmountable oppression, Gandhi saw an opportunity to practice nonviolence and compassion.  He taught that by changing how we see our “enemies,” we can create peace even in the midst of conflict.  Gandhi’s lens was one of empathy and hope, showing us that a new perspective can change the course of history.

Marcus Aurelius: Turning Trials into Teachers — The Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius faced constant pressure, war, and personal loss.  Instead of seeing these as mere hardships, he viewed them as teachers.  In his Meditations, Aurelius wrote, “The impediment to action advances action.  What stands in the way becomes the way.”  He believed that by changing our perspective—by seeing challenges as opportunities to practice virtue—we grow stronger and wiser.

Plato: The Cave and the Light

Plato’s famous Allegory of the Cave reminds us that our perceptions can be limited.  The prisoners in the cave see only shadows, mistaking them for reality.  It’s only when one prisoner dares to look beyond the familiar that he discovers the true source of light.  Plato teaches us that learning to see differently—questioning our assumptions and seeking deeper truths—can free us from ignorance.

Seeing through life’s moments being able to see life through the lens of growth, wisdom, understanding, and possibility takes practice.  It means pausing in the midst of our situations, circumstances, trials, struggles, or challenges, and asking… Is there another way to see this moment?  What can we learn from this moment or experience?  When we do, we find that life’s hardest moments or experiences often hold the greatest lessons.  So, the next time you face a challenge, remember the wisdom of Gandhi, Marcus Aurelius, and Plato.  Shift your perspective.  Shift your mindset.  Learn to see—not just with your eyes, but with your mind and heart.  You might just discover a whole new world waiting for you.

Respectfully,

Coach Frank Sagasta 

(c) Coachfranksagasta 2025