Real learning

How long has it been since you learned a new thing last time? What was it? A new exercise? A new language? A new instrument?

In fact, when we grew up, we have been forgetting how to learn. Does it sound strange? We work, we play, we talk, we think, we are learning every day. However, we just enhance our learned skills and make only minor changes or even no changes in this daily process. Therefore, we are using what we have learnt, our strengths, instead of learning new things, the real learning.

There is a huge difference between enhancing our learned skills and real learning. First of all is the openness. When we learn a new thing, we open up ourselves to receive new information, knowledge and experience. We do not need any judgment because we are learning a brand new thing. However, when we sharpen our learned skills, we usually use our learned knowledge and experience to judge, to comment and to set limit towards the learning process. Therefore, the attitude makes the first difference.

Secondly, the feelings of real learning are totally different with the feelings of enhancing learned skills. For what has been learnt, further learning is boring. There is the hardship in the enhancing process when you have already learnt the basics. Some people give up and some people procrastinate in this process. They are not motivated. However, when it is real learning, we find what we are learning is interesting, fresh and funny. We take the difficulties as challenges and feel excited. We enjoy the process and find happiness, just like a baby who is curious about the world.

Thirdly and finally, because of the attitude and the motivation of learning, real learning is rewarding. Different with other learning, real learning is developing the aspect which is your weakness or limitation. Therefore, it is a huge change for your life. The rewards are in multiple aspects. You might learn new things, meet new friends and have a new living style. It brings you a new perspective to view the familiar world. It brings you into new worlds. It refreshes you.

Many people think that they are too old to learn new things. They say that they cannot remember new knowledge. However, I do not agree with them. It is somehow an issue related to the mental status rather than the physical condition. When you are mentally fit and ready for real learning, you can learn anytime and anywhere. So, are you ready?

Image from: http://www.lotc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Learning-Tree-Colour-high-res.jpg