In this blog post, you will:
Learn what a posture of lifelong learning is.
Benefits of lifelong learning.
Advantages of lifelong learning.
Coach U tips on how to become a lifelong learner.
In our series on resources, we have covered accepting that we have resources in and around us. We have looked at the forgotten resource of serving others and we looked at practices that promote and diminish a mindset ready to discover resources.
In this article, we will look at an essential life posture that we can adopt to continually develop existing and discover new resources in our lives. The life posture I am referring to is lifelong learning. For many, learning is an academic stepping stone to gaining a certificate that will enable someone to enter the marketplace. This view or posture limits people, creating a stagnant environment that ultimately diminishes resources and does not merely keep existing resources.
A posture of lifelong learning is a mixture of academic (formal) but also experiential (informal) learning which focuses on growth and forward motion. Some benefits of lifelong learning are creativity and innovativation, (both essential skills to develop and discover resources). Another key benefit of lifelong learning is the relationships we pick up as we continue to learn and grow, these relationships are in themselves resources that we contribute to but also benefit from.
I came across the story of Nola Och who at 95 graduated from college and became a Guinness World Records holder for the oldest college graduate in the world. This inspiring story about lifelong learning sees a mother and wife continuing to act upon her dreams to become a college graduate. Throughout Nola's life, she went through world wars and economic and social upheavals, but through it all kept her appetite to learn and grow. To put Nola’s incredible story into perspective, Nola graduated from high school in 1929, then studied as a schoolteacher, raised 4 boys, started studying again at age 61, and continued studying various courses until she finally concluded her 4-year college degree at 95.
Nola’s story inspires us to look beyond the excuses not to learn and rather look for opportunities to continue learning despite challenges.
How to adopt a posture of lifelong learning:
Access to training
In modern times, training and information are more accessible than ever. There are countless options of online material available that will kickstart our learning process. Access also includes the countless mediums in audio, written, and visual material that we can consume and access any time anywhere.
A habit of curiosity
Curiosity may have killed the cat but certainly not people who want to be lifelong learners. Being curious, we stay in ‘learning mode’ which fuels our apatite to understand life around us.
Intentional with time
Activity does not equal quality or productivity. Becoming more intentional with how we use time will expose us to opportunities to learn and grow.
Coach U
During this week start positioning yourself for lifelong learning by investing in micro-learning opportunities. Commit to ten minutes per day to invest in a learning activity. It can be formal or informal, at this stage we just want to get into the habit of learning.
Next, reflect on what you learned by sharing it with a friend. Sharing what you learn will deepen your discovery and learning process.
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© 2023 Ivan Venter, All Rights Reserved.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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