Tips to Consider for
Learning New Skills
Even with
two Bachelor’s and two Master’s degrees, and I still feel like I don’t know
enough. I never get enough of learning new things. I pride myself in being a
lifelong learner. And you can too!
So you are
probably thinking, I’m some sort of super genius. I’m not a prodigy child or
anything close to it. I can say I have developed a few traits that have helped
me to enjoy and endure learning. I have worked through the trials and
tribulations that comes with the struggles of learning.
No, I’m not
bragging. I do want to be an inspiration to any and everyone who has developed
the negative self- concept that learning new things is impossible. If I can do
it, anyone can. Go for it! Start learning.
Here’s how
I did it:
Tip #1: You are not your fear.
Everyone
has a beast that must be faced at some point in life. Learning something new
happens to be yours. Face the fear of learning as if your life depended on it.
Well, actually, it does. New skills and knowledge yield growth and development
to help increase chances of success.
Overcome
fear by focusing on the benefits that are in store for you. Shifting your
attention from the unseen (your fear) to the seen (your goals) is a great way
to conquer fear. Pay attention to what really matters and not your fear.
Just do it!
Does that slogan sound familiar? It’s most definitely motivational. When fear
starts taking over, tell yourself over and over again to just do it. Once you
step out on action, you will forget the fear.
Are you
still harboring that fear on the inside? try this. Visualize yourself in the
position you will be in when you acquire and use your new knowledge. Visualize
yourself walking across the stage at graduation. Visualize your yourself
sitting behind the desk of your new job. See yourself as the new registered
nurse at the community hospital. Whatever your dream is, see it into existence.
Tip #2: Small steps eventually turn into huge strides.
If you
think that the task of learning is too big, break it down into smaller steps.
Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to take on too much at once. “Rome wasn’t built
over night.” It took what probably seemed like forever to lay brick by brick to
create a magnificent structure.
The major
keys to creating leaps and bounds through taking steps is to be consistent and
persistent. Set a goal with flexible timelines and go for it. You should work
on your goal a little every day. Keep on doing and keep on going.
Even if you
don’t get the results you want instantly, keep trying. Be persistent. Don’t
give up. Strength is built over time when you practice over time.
Tip #3: Who said learning can’t be fun.
I saved the
best tip to learning new knowledge for last. While the main objective is to
gain access to an increase in success, have fun while you are at it. Learning
can be fun.
You may
have always had the experience and perception that learning is too stressful and
time consuming. Put the fun back into learning. Do you remember the days of kindergarten
when all day was recess? Okay, maybe half of the day was recess. Bring that
same fun into learning as an adult.
You used to
celebrate when you jumped rope without tripping or beat the high score on your
favorite video game. You can do the same now when you conquer the task of learning
new knowledge or skills. treat yourself to a nice dinner or ice cream sundae.
You deserve it for a job well done.
You can
also make learning fun by making it a group event. Grab a few friends and join
a class or training together. Inviting others to join in on learning ensures
you have someone to laugh with during those silly thoughts of not being able to
finish occurs. Group study sessions are not only beneficial to help one another
process difficult ideas, but you can take a few breaks to crack a few jokes.
Learning is
what you make it. View learning as an enjoyable event that will pay off with
big dividends in the long run. Remain motivated, use positive self- talk and
never stop even after a failed attempt. So what are you waiting for? Go learn
something new.
For
additional tips, motivation and inspiration about overcoming challenges, join
the Push Pass Life Movement at bit.ly/pushpasslife
and download a free ebook at bit.ly/PPLebook.
Please feel
free to leave favorable or unfavorable comments about this blog post.
