Learning to Learn

The mind is a trap; it grabs and holds onto countless bits and pieces of information. The volume continues to grow with every experience we have as our mind identifies, classifies, organizes and synergizes every little tidbit of every aspect of them. This process is something we refer to as learning, which we describe as:

“Learning is the lifelong process of transforming information and experience into knowledge, skills, behaviours, and attitudes.” (1)

The above definition will suffice for this discussion. When I read it the first thought that occurred to me was “how do we do this?” Part of the answer is contained in the definition itself; that word being “transforming”. The idea of transformation is change, and change is learning.

We Are So Much More Than We Think

The best expressions of the human spirit are a remarkable sight. We are often in awe of what one person can do when they set their minds to it. Such people encourage and inspire us to be more than we have been and to step beyond the walls and limitations that may have restricted us in the past. This is especially true when their acts are selfless, when they come with a personal price or they make a noticeable, even significant difference in the world. We view them as different, as remarkable and even super-human. The fact is they are all and none of these things. They are merely people, just like you and I. What sets them apart is their willingness, even eagerness to express their selves without waiting for the approval or support of others.

We wonder what is different about them, what allows or enables them to step beyond what we imagine to be the normal boundaries of human activities. Words such as courageous and passionate come to mind, as do thoughts that they are gifted, skilled or simply different from the majority of people in some unknown or even unfathomable way. I would suggest that the truth is more of the former and less of the latter. Our typical response is to applaud them, to want to show our appreciation for what they have done or are doing, to hoist them on a pedestal so that we can admire their accomplishments and mumble under our breath how we wish we were like them.

Automatic Writing: Writing From The Inside Out

Today we look at a way we can get at our inner thoughts and knowings" without meditation, or any special techniques or tricks. It is based on that fact that we are gifted beings, whether we are aware of it or not. We have just masked our gifts to varying degrees through our reactions to experiences. This happens because, over time, our rational minds have become our primary vehicle for expression. It's thoughts are what we are aware of and come to view it as the "only" us. Yes, it is a part of us; however, it is not "us", this is an illusion. To access our natural gifts or expand on them we must learn to see through the illusion. There are many ways to bypass the order and structure our illusion is rooted in, something we do regularly though we are typically unaware of it as I have touched on before.