What is continuous learning?

It is the lifelong seeking of knowledge, be it personal or professional growth, the urge to learn should always be there. It should be like your daily hunger. What happens when you don’t eat? You feel hungry. This should be similar. If you don’t learn you should feel hungry about it and pursue new sources and satisfy that hunger.

Continuous learning is lifelong, something that needs to be done beyond the formal education system that we go through. It is not confined to a particular age group and is not constrained by any factor. It is never too late to learn a new thing. Even when our professional commitments are complete, in retirement too, there should be something that excites us and motivates us into something new.

“We can always have many interests that we can pursue at one time. The key is to continue with them and not take them as an excuse for the other.”

Motivation is what drives this pursuit of knowledge. There are various sources to it. Many books, articles, conferences, seminars, learning from friends and family, and many online courses are now available for people. It is also not confined to one area. We can always have many interests that we can pursue at one time. The key is to continue with them and not take them as an excuse for the other. As an attempt to fool ourselves, going to the other topic if we don’t want to do the one, we picked.

Be curious, curiosity is what keeps us alive. Have you seen a child asking questions? You get fed up but they continue asking. This is how the child learns, they learn by asking questions. As we grow, we lose this ability to ask questions.

“What will people think about me, not knowing? Making the world know that I am ignorant.”

Don’t know if it is due to the fear of something or feeling ashamed at not knowing about something. What will people think about me, not knowing? Making the world know that I am ignorant. This fear of ignorance keeps us from asking questions and learning new things. Ignorance is not shame it is your doorway or gateway, whatever you may call it to knowledge.

Positive effects of learning.

Remember when you learn something you feel a sense of achievement. This is more so if it is done without the help of others. When you do it on your own, you feel the thrill the excitement, of having done something positive. It releases a lot of hormones in your brain and keeps your brain healthy. When we learn new things, we know that we can handle the challenges that life throws at us, as we have the tools to deal with them.

“Knowledge also breeds approval from other people in society. They value your opinions and seek your company.”

Learning boosts self-confidence. If we know about a particular topic we feel more confident speaking about it or going in front of other people and discussing it. It leads to joy and satisfaction in life. We feel fulfilled having done and achieved something. The other factor is that knowledge also breeds approval from other people in society. They value your opinions and seek your company. This leads to new friendships and the development of common interests. You get a sense of purpose. You long for new things as there are so many things to learn.

During our professional life, it helps in our careers, if we are in computers or technology, for example, it helps to know about the trends in cutting edge technology. It opens new possibilities and opportunities for us in our careers and keeps our mental facilities sharp. When we learn new things, we are exercising our brain and keeping it healthy. It is same as the physical exercise. We place a lot of emphasis on physical health but do not give that much importance to our mental health.

“We do not think about our brains that much. imagine if you start forgetting things or lose your memory. What effect would it have on your lives?”

The brain is the powerhouse of our body. It is the system which controls how the body functions. Yet we do not think about our brains that much. imagine if you start forgetting things or lose your memory. What effect would it have on your lives? Your relationships with your friends and family will be affected. Your own day-to-day life will be disrupted. So exercise your brain.

Be curious. How to improve your curiosity

One thing that comes to my mind when I hear about curiosity is the famous cartoon series, Curious George. I watched multiple episodes over and over when my children were small. In a strange way, I used to love them too, the way the monkey was curious about everything. Learning new things in the process. This is what we need to do, though not at the monkey level by creating problems and then learning about it. We have a superior brain system and can very well start from scratch.

“Our memory is limited but more powerful and useful. The fundamental why’s, what’s, when’s, and how’s are missing in our lives.”

I can’t stress enough, the need to ask questions. There is no shame in not knowing about something we are all humans, not robots to have instant memory. Our memory is limited but more powerful and useful. The fundamental why’s, what’s, when’s, and how’s are missing in our lives. Always stay open-minded about learning new things. Read, reading is a powerful medium even though we have other powerful mediums like videos now.

Be honest about it, what was the last book that you read of your own choice? Reading stimulates curiosity, it informs you about so many things. Books, articles, magazines, essays there are so many forums. Make a conscious effort to learn something new every day, every week, and every month. Another good medium for keeping your brain sharp is puzzles. Maybe you like solving problems or puzzles, pick up that jigsaw and put it together. Look at the riddle and try to solve it. They also stimulate the problem-solving part of your brain and encourage critical thinking.

“Don’t be afraid of failure or setbacks in the journey. You may not feel motivated some days or encounter some hardships. Not being able to complete what you started, that is okay.”

Explore, traveling around, and visiting new places is a great way to gain knowledge. Learn about new cultures and languages, around the world. Observe, what is going around you. Open the curiosity and inquisitiveness within you. Don’t be afraid of failure or setbacks in the journey.

You may not feel motivated some days or encounter some hardships. Not being able to complete what you started, that is okay. It happens to everyone, and setbacks are part of life. Like they say, only people who don’t have problems are dead people.

“We always see the success that people achieve, do we see the failures they encountered before that success?”

All living people go through some problems and we create many for ourselves too. You will fail many times but remember failure is the biggest teacher. We always see the success that people achieve, do we see the failures they encountered before that success? No, as success hides all the failures that we encountered earlier. People who try and never give up, no matter what the odds are the people who succeed. Not the people who give up after the first failure. So don’t be afraid of failure. You will always come out stronger from it. Learn and don’t repeat the same mistakes to achieve that elusive success.

Success and continuous learning.

Success and continuous learning are very closely connected. If you are reading a book for example and don’t finish it, you will be less likely to take up another one. If you finish it, you will get a sense of accomplishment and look for the next one to read. Don’t be a book collector, be a book reader even if you must borrow it.

“Having a day full of happiness could be a success. Leading a healthy lifestyle without any major diseases could be a success.”

So, remember we need to understand what success is after all. It is not winning a lottery or gaining money or fame. Success has a different meaning for everyone. It is not only the achievement of your larger goals but could be the small things in life too. Having a day full of happiness could be a success. Leading a healthy lifestyle without any major diseases could be a success. Helping someone achieve something or get something could be a success.

The problem comes when we start mistaking materialism and wealth for success. When we start living in the future, than in the present. Constantly working for the future without enjoying our present. A big house, if I have a big house then I need a bigger one as I compare myself to the next-door neighbor or the other person who has it. So, I need it for myself. I need a bigger or more luxurious car. Maybe more money, after all, money is not enough for anyone. Even Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates for that matter are not tired of money.

“Don’t rely on other people for the validation of your success, you are the master of yourself.”

We always want more. The inherent drive for more leads to burnout and affects our well-being. Find the meaning, for yourself and strive for it. Don’t rely on other people for the validation of your success, you are the master of yourself. Think about what success is for you.

Look for instant gratification instead of long-term success. Break success into smaller goals. Small steps will take you there not a giant step. Find genuine success don’t fake it. Happiness and relationships are all part of our success.

“Teach your kids how to be happy than asking what they will become in life.”

Try to make yourself happy not chase after success. Teach your kids how to be happy than asking what they will become in life. If you are happy that would be success for you, it will come.

Don’t look at others and define what success is for you. Look inward and think about what would make you happy, your family happy, your society happy. Of course, the others can only be achieved if you are happy yourself. A happy mind drives us to make positive decisions and continue this journey of learning, on this journey of knowledge. A healthy mind leads to a healthy body and our overall well-being.