After a certain amount of trial and error, life invites us to examine the evidence and see if our chosen ideals/methodologies are working for us.  In the event that they aren’t, we are given the opportunity to create NEW systems/methodologies based on our accumulated knowledge, and in doing so, sharpen our spirits and minds.  Ironically, others will take up these systems/methodologies that we’ve create, and in that case we may be in the timeless position of reminding those people that they will eventually need to figure things out for themselves.