We all know that ongoing learning is good for you, and good for others. It’s a healthy part of life and keeps the brain active, and adds significant value to your journey. Developing a learning mindset has been a critical part of my personal journey and this week was a great reminder to me of this.
Firstly, a learning mindset is constantly looking for the learning(s) in every aspect of life. This is quite different to what the masses are looking for, and it is a practice you can develop as you go. The masses are looking for excuses, quick fixes and easy success, driven by the need to prove themselves. A learning mindset sees the value in every experience, the good, the bad and the ugly.
What I have learnt is that the questions we ask ourselves are critical. The masses will ask, “why did this happen to me”, where as a learning mindset will ask, “what can I learn from this to help my future”. The masses will ask, “how can I win”, fixated on proving themselves, where as a learning mindset will ask, “how can I grow”.
Even the smallest things in life have learning(s) for us, that will help us grow and develop into amazing people, in amazing relationships, achieving amazing results.
I have developed a habit of asking myself learning questions, and his has been an incredible life changer for me. In conflict, in suffering, in struggles and in challenges, I am constantly asking myself this question: what are the key learning(s) that will serve and empower me to become all I can be.
This week I had to move offices. Not a massive deal really, and for some people this would be exciting, as change and variety spur them on. For me though, I love my certainty, the familiar and comfort. My little office had become my second home for 13 years, a place where I have served people, developed vision, created solutions and grown as a leader and person in many ways. It holds great memories of brilliant moments, and some hard challenging moments. It also has a lot of my stuff in it, trophies, certificates, my football shirt collection and more. So for me, moving out was a little depressing and I found myself feeling quite down. I know it’s not a major issue, but it’s s simple illustration of my learning mindset.
Instead of dwelling on and allowing this change to fester inwardly, and as I felt myself withdrawing, I asked myself the question, “what are the key learning(s) that will serve and empower me to become all I can be”. I also asked myself, “why is this impacting me so deeply, and what can I learn from that”. I won’t go into all the details, but I was reminded that: learning 1/ I need to embrace uncertainty and enjoy the uncomfortable more; learning 2/ I need to focus on what I have gained and not what I lost; and learning 3/ I need to be grateful for the 13 years and expectant for what is to come. Three simple leanings that will help me to grow and become he best I can be in life, leadership and relationships.
Trust this was helpful to you and your journey of learning and growth. Have a brilliant day. Brett
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