Why Commit to Lifelong Learning?

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest — Benjamin Franklin

Learning how to learn better builds knowledge and wisdom therefore creating intrinsic motivation for lifelong learning.

Learning is important because we don’t know what we don’t know. Once you know you know, you know? By learning something new we build confidence because our understanding deepens. Like plant roots growing longer and stronger as it receives water and light. Learning is important because you’ll be more effective at processing information which means you’ll acquire skills. Developing skills will increase your confidence because you’ll grow competence in new arenas. Gladiators that held the highest skills were more likely to triumph after confidently stepping into the arena. Round one. Fight!

Did you know that a ‘gladiator’ in ancient Rome comes from the Latin word ‘gladius’ which means sword?

When I first started skateboarding as a child I could not perform the most technical basic trick, the ollie. I would excitedly watch the older boys execute huge ollie’s and land flawlessly. I was in awe! I remember thinking ‘how do
they do that?’ In hindsight I realised that the question is the answer. Radley, a local skateboarder kindly showed me the mechanics of an ollie. He broke it down into three simple steps to explain how to do an ollie:

Step one: tap the tail of the skateboard.

Step two: slide your front foot up towards the nose.

Step three: jump.

Now, I can confidently say that since I started skateboarding many moons ago and have performed thousands upon thousands of ollie’s. I love the process of learning and applying new skills to have fun!

Now it’s your turn. What will you decide to learn next?

Adopt a ‘growth mindset’ so that you learn to become intrinsically
motivated to learn for the sake of learning. To start to adopt…