3 Lifelong Learning Habits
Some people will never learn anything, for this reason, because they understand everything too soon. ~Alexander Pope
A number of years ago I asked my daughter the standard, "what did you learn in school today?" question. She thought about it a second and remembered:
"Oh! I learned all about “digraphs”
"Um - What?" I replied.
"You know, when two letters go together to make one sound? Like “ch” in “CHair” or “ph” in..."
"Oh!" I scramble to interrupt her, "like in 'PHone.'”
"Or in 'PHenix.'”
I chose to ignore the "duh'" tone coming from her voice. She was in kindergarten, I was on the back side of 40, and I should know about consonant blends. However, I had to admit, digraph was a new word for me.
Alas, I had just been schooled by my kid, and we both knew it.
I’d love to say that this was a one-time event, but so far each of her years in elementary school (and now middle school) have brought to light gaps in my education and/or memory. I am learning how to do math differently, discovering facts about American heroes (Ben Franklin did all THAT??), and yes, working on my grasp of the English language.
More than ever, I realize that it's more productive for me to approach life as a student and be honest about how little I know. In fact, pretending to know more than I do not only screams of insecurity, but it works against my growth. And so, I've collected thoughts from others in order to address the challenge of continuing education and settled on a few application points that work for me. There are dozens of different approaches, so you should brainstorm some of your own.
1. Read strategically
In his book The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership, Steven Sample persuasively argues that "you are what you read." He says skip the news articles, the trade publications, and the magazines if you're really interested in learning. To think differently, he says, read different material from others and start with "super texts" which are classics of literature, books like Plato's Republic, the Bible, Shakespeare, Machiavelli's The Prince. Sample challenged me to be more strategic and invest in my reading time. Application principle - make annual reading goals.
2. Change your habits
Researchers have found that new habits form new neural pathways in the brain. If we want to learn for our entire life, we HAVE to get out of our comfort zone and do new things! I loved the NY Times article and The Brain That Changes Itself on this topic. Application principle - tackle a new project for a year (like flipping an omelet or writing a blog!).
3. Learn from people younger than you
There's a verse in the Bible that articulates this idea beautifully... "Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." I love this reminder that the youth will always have a voice that matters. And I must do more than just hang around the periphery of people who are younger than I; I need to have a dialog with them so I can soak up their insights. Application principle - Facilitate a mentor group.
How do you approach learning? Are you systematic or do you have a natural curiosity that fuels your learning?