Learning process

Whatever you aim to learn, you must remember a few points. The most important of these is that self-cultivation starts with the self. The more we believe in our abilities to learn, the easier the learning process becomes. 

Learning anything is not a linear, continuously uprising line. We have a starting point, and that point is unique to us all. Every day, our minds and bodies are in different states, and many external and internal factors influence our being and learning at any given time. That means that although we might all begin the same class, we start at different places. There are days we feel like we are learning a lot, and there are days that we feel we walk backward and nothing seems to work. That is normal.

External factors that may cause problems with our learning are occurrences and happenings that either directly or indirectly affect our efforts to learn - surprise visits, overtime at work, any other work-related problem that stresses you, sudden illness, accident, or bus that misses its schedule. 

Internal factors are most likely things we need to start working on about ourselves. These include self-doubt, procrastination, malnourishment, tiredness, internal stress, and lack of focus. 

You need to develop a flexible and curious mindset, one that is willing to step out of your comfort zone and challenge your current way of thinking. Only with an open mind can you learn something new. A fixed mindset often protects itself from change, and for that reason, all new things that challenge the current way of thinking may seem harmful and destructive, something to fight against. We can change our fixed mindsets and learn to open our thinking patterns to curiosity and growth. A growth mindset is essential for learning. 

An open mind also affects our efforts to learn different sports and Martial Arts. If we believe in our abilities, we tell our bodies that learning is possible and we can achieve our goals. We must believe we can do something to can. Self-doubt is the greatest obstacle in the way of learning, and self-doubt can be supported by fellow students, teachers, and even friends and family - either knowingly or unconsciously. 

If we have a history with influencers who have doubted us, told us to stop doing something, or belittled our efforts, we might interpret looks, sighs, words, and gestures in a way that puts our attempts down. 

Teachers have very important roles in our lives. With proper support and guidance and correctly set boundaries and challenges, we can all learn and achieve more than we ever thought we could. Good teachers will help us raise and go above and beyond. Unfortunatly, we all face also teachers that put us down and pull the rug from under our feet. If you keep feeling deflated after a class and you feel that your self-doubt is growing, you should consider your options for change. That teacher that is not suitable for you might be a good teacher for someone else. After all, we are all different. 

Whatever you choose to train and learn, you will face plateaus - times when you feel that you are not moving anywhere with your learning. And those are very normal. Your body is adapting and adjusting to your new skills. 

You will face frustrations. And sometimes, you may even need to face your fears. Fear of failure and bodily harm are the most common when it comes to physical training. Facing fears can be horrifying, but with a good teacher, you do not need to be imprisoned by your fears. Step by step, you can grow out of them and reach the next level. 

Believe in yourself, surround yourself with a supportive group of people, trust the process, choose a suitable teacher, and open your mind to any challenge that may occur. Do not give up, and even if you momentarily feel that you can not learn, remember that tomorrow is a new day, and you feel different. 

Build yourself learning habits and commit yourself to the process. Remember that motivation comes and goes, and discipline is something we can cultivate into a habit that will take you where you wish to go.