Feedback, the key to perpetual learning

I remember reading how that Jesuit priests as part of their training to take time before making a key decison to write down what results they anticipate. Nine months later they then feedback from the results to their original anticipations. This process is expected to help the priest to discover what he does well and where his strenghts are. It also enables the priest to learn what he has to learn and what habits he needs to change. Ultimately the habit helps the priest to discover what he is not gifted for and and what he cannot do well.

I have tried to follow this habit myself and discovered how helpful it is in discovering what I am good at and where improvement is needed. Very importantly, however, it has helped me to discover what I am not good at and should not attempt to do. Knowledge of what you can and cannot do are vital to effective living not just for for individuals but also for church communities. But the key to obtaining such knowledge lies in continuous feedback without it we are doomed to repeat our failures. Why not make it a habit to seek and to give useful and honest feedback for the good of one and all.