No. 464, October 7, 2002

Why Life Long Learning

Work life has changed – no doubt most of us have experienced it. Yet I still meet groups in Sweden who are chocked by demands made on them to learn and grow. This is probably true also in other parts of the world. But isn’t learning and developing something natural for the human being?

According to the Hungarian born psychologist Mihály Csikszentmihályi the human being is designed to constantly try and surpass herself. Real satisfaction at work comes when we try to get better at something we’re already good at. Why then does change, at times seem so difficult? Well, Csikszentmihályi also says that too high demands give anxiety rather than satisfaction. On the other hand when demands are too low we get bored.

In my work with groups I’ve observed that people working too long without challenges tend to cement habits. One finds a way to do the work and expects it to stay that way until retirement. We all need change regularly to keep our "change muscles" fit and avoid getting stuck in a particular way of working. Ultimately we reap the benefits of having to change: increased presence and engagement in work which can enhance our lives.

Something I am absolutely convinced of after working for 20 years as a consultant is the innate ability for every person to do far more than he or she believes is possible. Often our fantasies about change can be much worse than the actual change. A more positive view would make things easier. Of course this does not necessarily mean that every change is sound and good.

Here are a few strategies on how to make change and learning a positive contribution in your life:

• Try to see the change as objectively as you can. Listen to both the positives and negatives and make your own conclusion about what is going to happen and what possibilities this opens for you. Learning something new will always be an asset in your life even when it does not look that way in the short term.
  
  
• It is hard work to develop, especially when our "change muscles" have rested for some time. However, it is not much different from starting to do physical exercise after a long break. Give yourself time, don’t expect everything to work and feel great at once. With time there may be bigger rewards than you can imagine. To grow as a person is to get a new outlook on life. It may even give you a feeling of being born anew and becoming an even wiser version of yourself.
  
  
• If change is inevitable, then let go. Holding on to what once was will most of all hurt yourself. Don’t try and fight the storm, let go and follow the wind in a way that helps you to learn, grow and succeed. Life long learning is here to stay. Let’s all start practising straight away.

Best of luck! Jonas Himmelstrand

© 2002 Strategies to Learn & Grow Newsletter • Printable version