A new day means endless learning opportunities. Just as they say that with every sunrise comes a new beginning, with every experience comes a lesson. Although we might not see nor understand it, it’s most likely there, big or small, hiding somewhere under the surface.
In the knowledge pursuit, we have to be careful with the framing. If we see it as something we attain, as a goal, or a finish line, becoming an everyday learner will almost certainly feel like heavy work we do. Therefore, we are at risk of losing interest or getting discouraged. Goals need to be accomplished, they need a delimited time frame, so they can fulfill a purpose and have a meaningful direction.
On the other hand, if we see learning as a path rather than a destination; if we think of it as a lifestyle or a way to walk through life, then it won’t be a weight on our shoulders, on the contrary, it will become our ticket to a highway, or like those wheels that we used to put to our shoes when we were kids. Living every day as a learner can be humbling some days, it can surprise us for sure, and every once in a while, when you look back, you will be grateful for how much you have grown without even noticing.
But what does it mean to be an everyday learner, what are the implications and benefits? And most importantly, why should you become one?
What?
Everyday learning as a way of life is letting our curiosity about the world run free. Let it guide you to new places, new people, new learning opportunities. Like when we were kids and used to follow our mothers around asking them about everything. That spark must come back.
It requires maintaining a growth mindset and knowing how to get back to it if we lose our way. It is about taking risks that lead us to growth and making the most out of any possible outcome. This path asks us to be motivated, to give it a higher purpose so we can live a lifelong learning life one day at a time. But it’s not only about the drive, but the determination to do it every day. The religiousness to ritually look for the lessons as you wrap up the day, or the willingness to go into new different roads that might leave you with new knowledge. It does not matter how you choose to do it, as long as it works for you.
Why?
The learn-it-all attitude is not only grounding, but it will give you the ability to pick up on different perspectives that widen your own. It will help you have multiple perspectives approach projects and issues, therefore enriching your skillset. By thinking that there’s always something for you to learn in every person or any given situation, you will start to listen more actively, leading to the strengthening of great conflict resolution skills.
Nowadays, in the ever-changing work fields, being a learner is an asset that helps you get ahead. Whether you are an independent learner or an academic type of person, having the interest in updating and improving yourself is something that is looked for in candidates for almost any job. It makes you an attractive applicant for jobs because it tells your future team that you will keep up to date, that you can adapt, and that you won’t stop improving, which also means that if they have you on their teams, they won’t stop improving either.
How?
To put it in a few words, you just need to be willing to ask questions, unlearn and relearn. But let’s break that down…
Ask questions: People around you are filled with stories, experiences, and wisdom. Don’t be afraid to ask them for advice or just to listen to their stories. Making those connections have invaluable benefits. But when it comes to asking questions, it also means having the courage to ask ourselves tough questions. To evaluate our actions and beliefs, to be self-critical and honest. Feedback is important to help us grow, wherever it comes from.
Unlearn: We should be able to leave behind what is no longer serving us. Part of the learning process is adapting to new challenges. To do so, we need to be able to identify what is holding us back, what needs to be readjusted, and what used to work but doesn’t anymore. Being mentally flexible is key to learning, and it will most certainly come in handy to help us keep up as the world moves forward.
Relearn: It is always a work in progress, it is about constant adaptation. Don’t be afraid to experiment, test your skills in different environments, try new things or new ways to approach old situations. Be resilient. Sometimes it’s good to relearn what we already know in the light of a new day.
When it comes to knowledge, it is better to walk through life as a learn-it-all than as a know-it-all. The one that thinks they know has already finished learning, and to be honest, in this world, one life is not enough to learn all that there is. So what are you waiting to make learning your daily path?
