Why You Struggle To Learn Anything

QUOTE OF THE DAY

WHY YOU STRUGGLE TO LEARN ANYTHING

406 Words | 1 Min 26 Sec Read

The problem with formal education in the modern day is that it instills in us a passive approach to learning.

We read books, take tests, and write essays, and much of the process involves absorbing information. However, in the real world, you learn best by doing, by actively trying your hand at the thing that you want to learn.

Because only when you take action can you really understand. You don’t learn to drive by reading books on driving, but by driving over and over again until you get the hang of it.

This is apparent in everything that you do. Learning how to start and grow a business will only take you so far; however, starting a business and having to face the adversities head-on is what will help you learn and improve.

The great sushi master chef Eiji Ichimura began his work in restaurants as a dishwasher some forty-two years ago.

His desire was to become a sushi chef, but nobody would tell him how it was done or give him direct instruction—it was a jealously guarded secret.

He had to develop his skills by watching carefully and then practicing the same techniques over and over.

He would practice in his off hours, going over the most intricate motions of the knife. Through such endless labour, he turned himself into a master chef.

Don’t get it wrong, learning by passively absorbing knowledge is still extremely valuable. It’s part 1 of picking up a new skill, but without part 2 of taking action, part 1 is only effective to a certain extent.

So if you find yourself unable to learn new things, ask yourself which part you’re focusing on. Chances are you have absorbed a lot, but have you actually tried your hand at the thing that you want to learn?

The truth is that very little is learned by passively absorbing knowledge; the real gold, value, and experience are gained through... You guessed it: experience.

ACTIONABLE NEXT STEPS:

The brain is designed to learn through constant repetition and active, hands-on involvement.

Through such practice and persistence, any skill can be mastered.

Pick a skill to acquire and don’t just learn it but practise it.

LESSON OF THE DAY ⤵️

It’s normal to give yourself a reward after completing a hard task; in fact, it's beneficial because it reinforces in your own head that when you do something hard, you get rewarded for it.

What you need to manage, however, is how big that reward is. You need to ensure that there is a limit on what you get in return.

Slowly decrease your reward; instead of binge-watching a series, limit it to one episode, and then get back to the hard work in order to reward yourself again later on.

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