Learning, Practice, and Teaching.
”They say, the best way to get good at something, is to do it. The best way to become great at something, is to practice it. And the best way to master something is to teach it.”
It’s funny, we seek advice when we’re in a tough spot. But one of the best ways for us to learn and find a way forward is to give advice.
The next time you are distraught, or lost, or find yourself in trouble - imagine your best friend, or someone — anyone, asking you for advice on the problem you’re facing. Speak to yourself as you would a friend, and take your own advice to heart.
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The next time you give advice to someone, their problem can be unrelated to your own, remember what you tell them. Listen to the advice you give and apply it to yourself.
Making mistakes can actually be the best way to learn. Imagine that first plunge into cold water. Harsh. But you acclimate quickly. Now imagine the first time you did something you were unsure about, it can be cooking, public speaking, ice skating, kissing… anything.
That first time you tried it, that first time you failed or struggled through, it took a lot of courage and will. Yet once you got the first one out of the way - the following attempts became easier. I like to call this overcoming Inertia.
The law of inertia states that an object in motion requires less energy to remain in motion; and an object at rest will require more energy to begin motion. Basically, it will require more energy to get an object moving, than it will require to keep the object moving.
Applied to people, our habits, and the feeling of life — beginning is always a big step. But once you take the first step, it’s easier to continue on.
Tying us back in, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. They are the fastest way to learn. And while they may be embarrassing, or hard lessons to learn… they are the fastest and most effective way forward. Making mistakes is the precursor to getting it right.
Practice, practice, practice. Begin by structuring your practice, because you need to understand what good repetitions are.
Once you understand what a good repetition feels like, then begin to deconstruct your practice into intentional play. This is where you are actively engaging in the activity you’re pursuing mastery of, but allowing your mind to relax a touch and be in a state of play and enjoyment.
Make sure to continue learning and evolving in your intentional play, and also mix in some days where you really push yourself, because now you understand what a good rep is, and what good work is.
The last step in your journey of continuing to practice into mastery, and well after is to diversify. Some of the best and most brilliant ideas and discoveries have been made while artists and great minds bounce between a number of activities. Three seems to be the magic number of things to focus on.
Once you have no energy or hit a sort of spiritual wall in your pursuit of one activity, move to the next. Once one thing calls to you or resonates with you in a certain period, focus on that.
The idea is to not tie yourself to one cross. It is to flow freely between what you want to pursue, to give your brain and body variety and freshness. Allowing you to adapt across multiple disciplines and apply seemingly disconnected principles to your practices.
This is the way. Try it for yourself.
I hope you’re doing what your heart most desires and that you are planting the seeds of your future.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this week. I hope that you will take something valuable away from my words.
As always,
Stay warm.
dc
