One of the mantras my mother used when we were growing up. She convinced me (my sister less so) that a formal education and the resulting qualifications were important. I dutifully obliged and it certainly gave me a good footing on the career ladder and a mindset that means I keep on learning.

I applied myself again this morning by taking an exam to assess my proficiency as a Psychotherapist. It was run by the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) of which I have been a member for several years. However, members like me who achieved my accreditation through a different organisation, are being tested to validate our standing on BACP’s national register.

There’s no legal requirement by the way. I could have ignored the invitation to participate and allowed my membership to lapse. Clients wouldn’t have suffered and it doesn’t have any impact on my eligibility to practice; and I took the exam anyway.

Not only does it give the people who work with me added confidence that I’m fit for purpose, and evidence that I’m adhering to high standards of proficiency and ethical practice; it also keeps me fresh and my thinking current which is very important.

The thing to remember is that ‘schooling’ is only one type of learning and is the way to go when we want to attain specific qualifications. However, there are so many other opportunities to further our knowledge and hone our skills as we go through life, fulfilling our career ambitions.

So, what’s the occasion today that could provide you with the chance to develop your knowledge or acquire a new skill? What else could you learn if you put your mind to it?