Don’t be afraid of getting rid of concepts and ways of doing things that are dragging you down.
Unlearn
to make an effort to forget your usual way of doing something so that you can learn a new and sometimes better way.
Cambridge Dictionary - https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/unlearn
Learning and unlearning is rapidly becoming the most important skill of our times.
Is learning and unlearning something new and groundbreaking? Of course, it isn’t. The idea of emptying or decluttering your mind in order to make room for new thoughts has been around for centuries. What is different nowadays, and will be more so in the future, is the pace at which will have to get rid of concepts and ways of doing things, in order to better tackle new projects.
"I don't want to unlearn everything I know"
I don’t think that the process of learning and unlearning will touch every little bit of knowledge rattling around inside that big brain of yours. There’ll always be transferable skills and information that you’ll be able to use in different projects. However, techniques, guidelines, and tools that you become familiar with, in order to deal with a specific project, will become dated sooner than later. When that happens, be willing to let them go without shedding a tear.
There’s nothing wrong with asking your brain to dump information that is no longer relevant. You throw away a lot of stuff during spring cleaning every year. Why not do the same with terabytes of data that no longer serve a purpose in your professional and personal life.
Shoshin matters
Shoshin is a word from Zen Buddhism meaning "beginner's mind." It refers to always approaching new ways of doing things, with an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconception, just as a beginner would. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoshin).
Starting from scratch makes you anxious
Learning something new takes time, it can be challenging, and it causes anxiety. The latter makes perfect sense: You’re leaving behind something you had already mastered, in order to venture into the unknown, where there’s a swarm of What If’s waiting for you: What if this time I won’t be able to learn something new? What if my mind is not what it used to be? What if my old habits get in the way? There’s no doubt that starting from scratch can make you feel vulnerable. But you know what? Accept the challenge and press forward. Just by setting your fears aside, you’re making progress.
Learning and unlearning can be exhilarating
Learning and unlearning at an accelerated pace can be an emotional rollercoaster. I worked through Payless Shoes’ second bankruptcy. The situation was very fluid and we would make progress as we went along. No sooner had we learned or mastered a new procedure, when were told: “Ok, forget about that. Here’s how we’ll be making things from now on.” It was hard work. It was challenging. But at the same time, it was very exciting. It was an extraordinary boot camp where I learned to quickly adapt to frequent changes in the workplace, and, most importantly, I had a glimpse of the future, and it’s all about learning and unlearning. ☼
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Alex Guerrero is a content creator who lives in Lawrence, KS. He’s very vocal in his displeasure over pineapple pizza. Chocolate, on the other hand, makes everything better!
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