Humans aren't born with all the answers to the puzzle that is life. We have a decent set of animal instincts, but that doesn't cover us in every situation we encounter At some point, humans unwittingly discovered at least one way to increase their odds of dealing with life's challenges: by taking finding a mentor. Oftentimes the older, wiser, and seasoned veterans of life, a mentor is someone who takes a less experienced person under their tutelage in order to pass on beneficial knowledge and skills. A mentor can help make up some of the difference and give you a better chance at avoiding some of life's tougher spots. Here's how:

5. OFFER GUIDANCE

Perhaps the most well-known function of a mentor is to provide guidance.This is the main form of support you'll receive and it can come in several different forms. If you weren't one of those people born with the ability to take sure decisive action without second guessing yourself at every turn, or if you're one of those people who find it difficult to bounce back after a heavy setback or loss, this can be a huge boon. With someone to provide advice, challenge you to think of what to do next, or in some cases, tell you what to do, you'll likely spend very little time feeling stuck. Also, a mentor's expertise can cover the gamut from dealing with love in relationships, to learning how to build a house from scratch. Bottom line, they help you to move forward. Who doesn't like forward momentum?

4. HAVE A ROADMAP TO SUCCESS

Oftentimes when one chooses a mentor, they choose that person for a reason. Perhaps they see their dream or goal manifested in physical human form. Or perhaps they discover that thing they didn't know they were looking for in their mentor that they want for themselves. They can see what success looks like, and in turn the mentor can relate just how they got to the point at which they arrived. Of course, no two roads are exactly the same. It's likely that once one sets out to do whatever they intend, they'll face different challenges. But at the very least, there's a basic plan to achieve that desired outcome, one with a proven record of success by the person who did it first. The easiest way to a treasure is to follow a map.

3. MADE MISTAKES

Older wiser people who become mentors were young and clueless once, and they've walked that bumpy road to success long before the people who come after them. They know just where the worst parts of the road are: the places that cause slips and falls, the places that offer distraction, and the places that might even make one want to turn back. The best thing about mentors knowing these things is that they can tell their mentees all about it. The only thing one has to do is listen and heed the words they hear. Chances are, one can avoid a great deal of heartache and wasted time in this way. Life is short, don't shorten it further by taking needles risks or wasting time.

2. HAVE CONNECTIONS

In this day and age, almost everyone networks thanks to social media. By knowing someone, one automatically knows that person's acquaintances and so on. The difference here though is in quality. One might know a hundred people through association with that one guy from that one party, who happened to think you were cool, but it could turn out that none of those hundred people have what's needed for the success being sought after. The mentor on the other hand, through their journey, likely has contacts geared specifically towards certain causes. If one happens to be following in their mentor's footsteps, then this has the potential to be a real game changer as far as achieving success. Understand though that even though you are being mentored, these contacts likely have some sort of intrinsic value, and may not always be shared willingly. Be prepared to earn access to these connections, though if you're offered contact without having to, even better.

1. EMOTIONAL/MORAL SUPPORT

This is perhaps the most important benefit of having a mentor. It may sound similar to reason number five, but trust me, it's different. It's not a secret that in American society, the number of homes lacking one or both parental figures is a lot bigger than it used to be. The benefit of getting vital lessons in morality, and the feel of knowing someone cares about you on a deep level is lost to a great many. A mentor can help to fill that void if both parties agree that that sort of connection is okay. Normally, dealings with a mentor are very business-like, and emotional connections are kept at arm's length for out of respect or professional courtesy, but a mentor willing to take on this role is like a godsend.

Mentors can be found in mentoring organizations, schools, churches, and even through online support groups. There is also the chance of finding a mentor closer to home through family or friends. If there is someone in mind, it wouldn't hurt to summon up the courage to ask if they would be willing to fill the role, but understand that not everyone is open to such a commitment. Still, if one can do amazing things alone, one can accomplish so much more with a mentor behind them.