Learning from Learning

(Time to read: ~

I’ve been taking a lot of courses lately and I’ve noticed one very interesting thing about them all.

I’ll be going through the material, sailing along, loving the process. And then there’s a request to do something different and suddenly I come to a screeching halt.

Why does this happen?

I think that as adults we’re used to doing most things pretty well. From cooking to driving to the work that we do – we’re used to feeling pretty competent and capable. So being incompetent feels… well, incompetent and awkward.

So what can we do about it?

I’ve discovered three things that are helping me:

1. Try tackling only one “do something different” projects at a time.
2. Break into down into really tiny, concrete and specific pieces.
3. Do only a bit of the new stuff at a time – mix it in like a bit of spice in a hearty stew.
4. Find support – don’t try to do it alone. Skilled support can help you be realistic about what a really tiny piece is and celebrate your progress – progress that is sometimes too small for you to see.