notes #10: on the perspectives of learning

Learning is one of the most important things in our lives — and so here is a story of what I learnt about learning.

Non-Linear

When I was 14, my judo coach told me something I never forgot till this day. I still remember I was struggling to master a throw — for weeks I would consult him on how to get better.

Then one class, he told all of us this: “Learning is like a staircase — your improvements don’t come day by day, but stage by stage.”

Back then, I was too self-absorbed to understand this idea fully and all I know I had to do was to keep doing it.

Today, this concept is but one of many ideas about how learning is a non-linear process — sometimes you learn more sometimes you learn less.

Discomfort

Fast forward several years later when the book Deliberate Practice by Anders Ericsson was released, I learnt about the importance of being extremely intentional about learning and practice. The idea in the book is simple: if you’re not in a state of slight discomfort, you’re probably not growing.

I love this concept because of its simple truth. Most of the time, we know what’s important for our progress, but we often avoid it out of fear — whether it’s discomfort, judgment or otherwise.

Of course, the book goes on about the other conditions of practising effectively, like having immediate feedback. If you want to master a craft or achieve expert performance, I would recommend this book.

Uncertainty

Not too long ago, I came across the idea that when we start learning something new, that initially knowledge gain makes us feel extremely knowledgeable about the topic. But as we learn more, we realise how much we actually don’t know — and it takes a crazy long time from then on to become an expert. And even then, there’s still so much you don’t know.

It reminds me of a professor who said this to her class: “Learning is simply navigating through the uncertainty.”

What this is trying to say is twofold — uncertainty means there is a space of learning and it also highlights the importance of embracing what we don’t know and what can never be known.

Curiosity

Recently, learning has been framed to me even more simply as this: follow your curiosity — chase the references and learn things for the sake of it. By doing so, not only will you actually get better at the craft, you will stop letting your biases and ego influence your decisions.

It’s the best driver there is — to help you get through the nature, discomfort, and uncertainty of learning. And still enjoy the process.

If you put all these perspectives together, they are all actually talking about the same thing — just from different angles.

Looking back, the times when I learnt the most were some of the most uncomfortable and tiring experiences of my life — yet they were also the most fulfilling ones.

In his book Flow, Mihaly shares about the value of seeking enjoyment in whatever you do (as opposed to pleasure), how enjoyment can be achieved on a daily basis and its relevance to our happiness and quality of life.

The goal, then, is to create learning periods throughout our week, and optimise for a state of flow during those times.

Also, one of my favourite diagrams about learning is Bloom’s Taxonomy — and I use it to constantly remind me that knowledge is more than just remembering or understanding.

In fact, this newsletter is my attempt to constantly learn new things and apply the principles above — and more importantly, to reflect on my past self’s decisions and share with others where useful, while informing my future self to be more perceptive.

And that’s it for today’s letter. Thanks for reading.

Cheers,
Joesurf

💡 Inspiration of the Week

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi:

• “Happiness is a condition that must be prepared for, cultivated, and defended privately by each person. People who learn to control inner experience will be able to determine the quality of their lives, which is as close as any of us can come to being happy.”

• "Flow is being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz."

• "It is by being fully involved with every detail of our lives, whether good or bad, that we find happiness, not by trying to look for it directly."

🧠 Weekly Notes

📖 Book [9/10] — Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi:

• Understanding Flow: Flow is a mental state where individuals are fully immersed in an activity, experiencing deep focus, enjoyment, and a loss of self-consciousness. This state leads to optimal experiences and personal fulfilment.

• Conditions for Flow: Achieving flow requires a balance between the challenge of the task and the individual's skill level. Tasks that are too easy lead to boredom, while overly challenging tasks can cause anxiety.

• Benefits of Flow: Regularly experiencing flow can enhance overall happiness, creativity, and productivity. It encourages personal growth by pushing individuals to develop new skills and face challenges head-on.