Stop just learning!
You think this is counterintuitive right? You have numerous tests, must attain academic excellence, want to become a scientist, must learn a language or sport, or just must fulfill that IQ record. Relax! I know. All of these usually involve some form of formal, deliberate learning–you sign up for the classes, you do your homework, you practice. Yet, learning is overwhelmingly boundless.
The Oxford Dictionary defines learn(v.) as:
To gain knowledge or skill by studying from experience, from being taught, etc
To become aware of something by hearing about it from somebody else.
To gradually change your attitude about something so that you behave in a different way.
Wikipedia defines learning as: the process of acquiring new understanding, knowledge, behaviour, skills, values, attitudes, and preferences (dated February 28, 2023).
In addition to this definition is an exhaustive list of the different types of learning:
- Non-associative learning
- Active learning
- Associative learning
- Play
- Enculturation
- Episodic learning
- Multimedia learning
- E-learning & augmented learning
- Rote learning
- Meaningful learning
- Evidence-based learning
- Formal learning ...and so on.
I'm not going to go into the history or theories. Instead, I want to highlight all avenues of learning.
When I say that you should stop just learning, I mean that you should embrace and acknowledge all things you actually learn, to stop thinking of learning in the sphere of completing and acing school work, and to understand that every second you're learning something. You need to start paying attention to it, perhaps.
You learn from an endless list of things:
- Reading or watching the news (my first encounters with South Korea, John F. Kennedy, epidemiology, girls right, etc)
- Reading books (oh! books that change lives– Gifted Hands, God of small things, Biology textbook, etc)
- TV shows, radio & podcasts
- Trips & excursions
- Helping grandparents
- Community service
Really, take a book and start writing what you learn down. You'd be busy for hours or days, I'm sure.
You aren't incapable of learning. You should learn but allow your mind to be spurred on.
Thank you to Maya B for editing this article!