Other things being equal, the more we practice something, the better we are at doing it; simple repetition has a way of building skill. And there's another, even more important, benefit that experience brings to the table. It arises from the mismatch between classroom theories and the real world: the real world is considerably more complex than our theories and models would lead us to believe. Don't get me wrong! Classroom learning is a powerful, highly-efficient first step. But in the end, it takes first-hand experience to finally show us what is likely to work, and not work, in the real world.
For more than 30 years, real-world experience has been patiently showing me what tends to help, and not help, clients find their way through personal difficulties. Along the way, clients and I have managed to put together practical solutions for all sorts of challenges such as:
Each of us is simultaneously the same as everyone else, and unique. As a result, our path through life is almost certain to be full of surprises, unexpected elements, and plot twists. That's where experience pays its greatest dividend: gently navigating the inevitable twists and turns of your unique life is a skill polished by experience. To put that another way, experience shows us how to fashion realistic solutions to fit each individual's or couple's unique needs and circumstances.
The most successful people are those who are good at plan B — James Yorke