For many, this is the time to return to classrooms, sharpen pencils and feel excited about new beginnings. From kindergarten to university, children and young adults alike are embarking on their educational journeys with minds open to absorbing new information. But as we watch them head off to school, we must remember that learning is not just the domain of the young. Continuing learning is a lifelong journey.
Continuous learning is often categorized as necessary for professional development and career advancement. However, this view is limiting. Learning is not just about acquiring new skills to improve job performance or secure a promotion. It's about broadening your horizons, exploring interesting subjects and growing as an individual. Learning is about the joy of discovery, the thrill of mastering something new and the satisfaction of pushing your limits.
Books, articles, and essays are windows into other worlds, offering perspectives that challenge our own and ideas that expand our thinking. Reading is the foundation for ongoing learning because it allows us to engage with the ideas of others, past and present. Whether we are immersing ourselves in a novel, exploring historical records, or analyzing scientific papers, reading stimulates our imagination and deepens our understanding of the world around us.
When you try something new, especially one that's outside your comfort zone, you're bound to encounter setbacks. You'll make mistakes, encounter obstacles, and feel like giving up. But it's these moments that teach you the most.
An important part of continuous learning is a willingness to laugh at yourself along the way. Learning isn't always a smooth process. It's often confusing, frustrating, and humbling. But when you recognize that mistakes are a natural part of learning and approach learning with a sense of humor, it creates room for growth.
As children return to school, let us remember that their journey overlaps with our own. By reading, watching, or doing, and using a healthy dose of humor along the way, we can sharpen our minds, stimulate our curiosity, and fill our lives with the joy of discovery.
I’d love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com If we embrace the opportunities to learn both within and outside our comfort zones, we’ll find that each step forward is a fuller, more knowledgeable, and a step towards a better, more fulfilling life.
Michael Norton is an author, personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, individual and corporate encourager and motivator, and works with organizations and associations across multiple industries.