Interestingly enough this is why there are so many interpersonal conflicts at work. We often spend more time with our co-workers than our family and so work, rather than the home, becomes the place where we are presented with our life lessons.

Just as a movie consists of one central theme and a number of underlying themes that support the central theme, our lives will also feature one major life lesson / theme and a series of smaller lessons we will experience on our journey through life. And like the movie "Groundhog Day," our life lesson will keep coming up, over and over again, until we face it and learn from it.

It doesn't matter whether you are a CEO or a receptionist, a famous athlete or a college student, whether you are rich or poor, happy or sad, or a stay at home Mom or Dad, every one of us must face and learn from our life lessons to grow mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It's a curriculum that does not discriminate and no one is exempt from the test.

So how do you know what your life lessons are? Do what I have done on the book tour with my family. Start paying attention to the conflicts and feelings that arise in your life. For instance, on this trip I realized I was always rushing my children so I learned to slow down and make the trip more meaningful. I realized that when we had to take my daughter to the emergency room, on two separate occasions, because of a possible broken ankle and ribs, that I was not in control and needed to surrender. And I learned that the arguments between my wife and I were great opportunities learn more about ourselves.

How about you?

Do you often get into the same argument with different co-workers or family members? It's actually a gift meant to teach you a life lesson? Do you have the same negative issues with different bosses? Definitely a life lesson. Do different employees or friends quit on you for the same reason? A life lesson is calling you. Do you seem to always attract the wrong person when it comes to your love life? It's time to understand why. Or how about the need to control everything? The lesson of surrendering awaits you. Kids driving you crazy? It represents a great opportunity to slow down, become the driver of your bus and enjoy the ride. Have you recently lost your job or experienced the end of a long relationship? This is very likely the biggest opportunity in your life.

While the tests are often different, the central themes and patterns are very similar. Life lessons gravitate around the issues of trust, fear, love, worthiness, control, security, forgiveness, destiny, compassion, anger, ego, etc. and they are wonderful gifts because they show us where we are broken and where we need to be healed. When we see the shadow we also find the source of the light. Once we understand the problem, the solution is clear.

For example when a woman told me that she keeps having the same issues with different male bosses it was clear that she was looking for love and approval from her bosses because she never received it from her father. Her lesson was one of love and worthiness. Once she realized and addressed this, her work performance and work relationships improved dramatically. And when a sales executive told me he kept losing clients, after talking to him, it was clear that he was meant to learn to trust instead of fear and believe that he was deserving of the success he was "so close" to experiencing. Once he started to have real faith his sales soared.

Life tests exist to help us become a better person tomorrow than we were today. Once we decide to treat life like a school and prepare ourselves to take and learn from life's tests-and in the process seek guidance and a deeper connection with God, every aspect of our life and career will improve. And the best part of life lessons is that unlike high school or college, in life, we are not meant to face our tests alone. If you ask the answer will be given.

Jon Gordon is a leading authority on developing positive, engaged people, leaders, schools, businesses and teams. He is the author of The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel your Work, Live and Team with Positive Energy, The 10-Minute Energy Solution and Energy Addict: 101 Ways to Energize Your Life. Jon's proven solutions are being put to use by people and organizations worldwide and his tips have been featured on CNN, the NBC Today Show, Men’s Health, Forbes, Positive Thinking Magazine, and more. He is also the co-founder of PEP- The Positive Energy Program, which creates and funds programs that develop healthy, positive children around the world. Learn more and sign up for Jon’s free weekly energy tip newsletter at www.JonGordon.com