What is the one thing you wish you knew how to do?
Close your eyes and let your mind find the answer.
I guarantee you already have something in mind.
Why?
Because all of us were sold on the idea that we had to choose a path and stick to it.
Or rather, make serious decisions about a path in life at an early age.
And then we realized there are other interesting things out there.
Maybe even more attractive than the path we chose.
So you have an idea in mind.
A subject or skill.
That’s perfect.
Because now I plan to be the guidance counselor you never had, and tell you the truth.
It’s never too late.
You’re capable of far more than you’d believe.
Becoming a lifelong learner is one of the great unlocks of life.
Refuse to be defined by your college degree or a specific talent.
It’s time to realize that there’s a huge world out there.
And you’ve only scratched the surface.
There are many reasons you should adopt this mentality.
Before we discuss how to kick your brain into higher gear, let’s identify why.
1.
Professional Goals The easiest one to connect to a tangible benefit.
Nearly every skill you have learned in school will become outdated.
I remember taking a summer course in college that covered an intro to Adobe Flash.
The program is gone, but the principles and technical skills crossed into other areas.
But only if I was willing to continue learning on my own.
Once you land that first job, you’ll be handed a barrage of things to learn.
From applications to social skills, the list is endless.
Lifelong learning is essential to stay sharp in your career field.
2.
Leadership Opportunities Some of the best leaders are those who understand
a variety of skills.
Even if they aren’t masters of every single one.
The best directors I’ve worked with understand cinematography, lighting, and screenplay.
Are they experts in each field?
Not necessarily.
But they have taken it upon themselves to learn laterally, beyond the scope needed.
When you can appreciate and speak to a broad set of topics, you can relate to far more
people.
Especially people looking to you for direction.
3.
Health I know, taking care of your health is obvious.
Yet, many don’t focus on mental health as much as they should.
I’m not talking about the emotional toll from watching Justice League.
No, I’m talking about brain health and cognitive capacity.
Studies show that continued education will strengthen the health of your brain.
Furthermore, it will fight off the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
4.
Satisfaction This is the one that’s difficult to measure
but you will notice.
People love to tell you what you can or can’t do, but rarely do adults tell themselves otherwise.
Forget that.
One of the great joys in life is deciding to learn something new and achieving the goal.
In turn, sharing with others is equally satisfying.
And in the end, you’ve taken full control of the person you’ve become.
You’re sitting there thinking, “Yeah, I have always wanted to learn how to draw
dog portraits in charcoal.
I’m going to do it!”
I applaud your enthusiasm.
We need more people like you, and more of that kind of art; cats get too much fame on
the internet.
Now let’s talk about action.
1.
Reframe Your Goal If you haven’t already done so, I want you
to think about the word education.
Just that word.
Now think about the experiences that come to mind.
If you are envisioning a classroom or general uncomfortableness, clear your mind.
You must realize that lifelong learning is an opportunity.
It’s a chance to enrich your life.
And it’s within your control.
It can be your secret.
Your north star.
Nobody can take it away.
2.
Find Your Learning Style Not all students learn the same way in school.
Some are visual, while others are auditory, reading, writing, and kinesthetic learners.
Those students grow up to be us; adults who still have those learning styles.
Determine your preferred way to take in new information.
Think about the last time someone shared or taught you something and it really stuck.
Identify how they communicated that information.
That’s your learning style.
3.
Identify Your Interests The best part about this kind of pursuit is
that it can be selfish.
Choose something that you love and want to know more about.
It’s that simple.
I had always loved photography.
Yet, I only took one photo class in college.
It wasn’t until post-grad life that I bought a camera, photography books and devoted my
time to learn the skill.
And yet, it doesn’t even need to be something you plan to monetize.
Enriching your life doesn’t mean you need to enrich your bank account.
4.
Growth Mindset The foundation of everything here comes down
to your mindset.
The term growth mindset was originally coined by psychologist Carol Dweck.
She determined that there are differing views of one’s own learning and intelligence.
Those with a growth mindset believe they can learn more, not limited by prior experiences.
The opposite view?
A fixed mindset.
The belief that you are limited by your inherent talents or perceived intelligence.
The truth is that your brain is far more malleable than you can believe.
Research on brain plasticity shows that connectivity between neurons can change with experience.
In short, it is scientifically proven that you can learn far more than you’ve been
lead on.
Talk about a silver lining to being wrong.
It all comes down to wanting to do and be more.
We’ve talked about the reasons why it’s beneficial.
You get it.
And we’ve discussed how to build that growth mindset (that we both know you already have).
Life is a learning experience.
There is no way around it.
What better way to live than by taking an active part in that?
Let’s recap the benefits: You’ll grow your professional skillset
Leadership opportunities will be created It benefits your health
You will feel so very satisfied Let’s recap your to-do list:
Reframe learning as an opportunity Find your preferred learning style
Identify your interests Adopt a growth mindset