By Leland Pulley
As adults we all went to school while growing up. When we left school, we may have presumed that most learning in life was done. Obviously, this is not true.
Learning begins when life begins and then continues through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood until our death. We are always learning through our experiences both in the classroom and in daily living. Just because formal schooling stops at a certain age or a specific degree is obtained, does not mean that learning stops. In fact, today the knowledge base available to mankind is expanding at a rapid rate. It is important to keep informed and up-to-date in a lot of different areas. As part of this ongoing effort, many adults are returning to school. Although you have a high school, junior college or college degree, you will probably seek more formal education in future years for work or other purposes.
In formal schooling you are exposed to a variety of subjects. With a college degree the emphasis is in a certain field of study. On-the-job there is usually even more specialization. What this means is that you usually have a lot of knowledge about a narrow topic range. To broaden yourself out, it is advisable to gain knowledge in new areas beyond what you do for a living and some of the major subjects you studied in school.
One of the first things to examine is your basic desire to learn. Hopefully, you have a strong desire, but if not, work to cultivate it. If you do, the learning you obtain will pay rewards for you in many areas or aspects of your life. It is a wise investment of your time, talents, and energy.
There are several ways to get involved in learning and gain from it.
- Simply listen to what goes on around you and to the conversations you have with others.
- Observation permits you to notice what goes on in the environment around you.
- Curiosity will help you learn about things of interest.
- Learn to read well. Develop good study skills.
- Remembering – Learn how to remember the things you learn. One way is to find applications for ideas, techniques, strategies, etc.
- Reinforcement – Share what you learn with others. In this process the information will be reinforced in your mind.
When it comes to learning, individuals have some differences. There are learning disabilities with some people. Beyond this, individuals learn in different ways. Strive to identify your learning style. What is the best and fastest way for you to learn various topics.
Learning should involve the past, present, and future. With it you will be able to connect these three. Past learning is the foundation to build on today. Learn from the past and let it guide you in the present. Utilize the knowledge gained and skills developed. Study and learn more in the present. This will prepare you for the future.
Just as important as learning are the types of things you learn. They should be truths, not false ideas and concepts. They should be good things, not bad things. They should be useful things, not things of little value. Hopefully, many of these things will have a direct application in your life.
One thing to watch for is the tendency to stay in your comfort zone. This means you seek learning only in areas you are already competent in, or you accept only views similar to your own. Such an approach does not allow you to broaden out. It blocks the progress you will need for the future or your future endeavors.
As you seek and obtain learning, apply it properly in your life. In doing this, your mental, emotional, social, and spiritual capacity will grow. You will gain perspective, wisdom, and understanding. The right types of learning will produce positive results like more accomplishments, good feelings, less boredom, and even lower tendency for depression.
Here is something most people do not realize. Continual learning is a process that over time produces many good benefits in our lives. With it comes more truth. When truth is applied in appropriate ways to benefit yourself and others, you become a better person and radiate more spiritual light to others. Truth and light encourage you to seek more knowledge and good experiences. This leads to more wisdom and greater understanding. It becomes easier to be an even better person and live a more righteous life. You are involved in a self-improvement process or a process of becoming more perfect. Greater joy enters your life and fills your whole being. What a blessing!
Key Words – school, always learning, gain knowledge in new areas, listen, curiosity, observation, study skills, learning disabilities, truths, perspective, wisdom, understanding, spiritual light, self-improvement
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