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November 14, 2000 | Remembering the joy of learning It's easy to get so caught up by the pressure to succeed in our lives and in our studies that we forget to relax and have fun. I know I constantly battle a single-minded relentlessness in pursuit of my goals. Luckily, I've found a technique that helps put things back in perspective: memory. It's really simple, too. You just have to "remember" to use it! Here's how it can work. * The next time you find yourself cramming for an exam in the wee hours of the morning (concentrating on the grade you want instead of the subject you're supposed to be studying!), think back… …to your childhood fascination with every object, no matter how small. Remember capturing the essence of a rose by smelling it, touching it, prying it open, peeling off the petals one-by-one, maybe even tasting it. You learn through total engagement with your subject. There's no rush. You don't have to be doing something "useful" or be somewhere else. And once you give up anxiety over what happens at the end of the trip, you'll find out the ride is the best part. * The next time you're in class, hesitating to raise your hand for fear of asking a "dumb" question, remember… …your child-like curiosity at the wonder of a new world and the constant questions you were never too intimated to ask ("Why is the sky blue?"). You're in class to learn, and no learning takes place without questions. Just don't get frustrated when you discover that the more you learn, the more you understand there are no ready answers to many of your questions. * The next time you're disappointed in a grade on that term paper you slaved over for weeks… …remember the thrill of accomplishment when you rode your first bicycle. You may have been a bit wobbly -- maybe you even fell off (or hit the fence to stop, like me), but you did it! And the next time it was easier, then easier -- almost imperceptibly -- until the day came when you couldn't remember not being able to ride! Each step may not give the results you want. Don't get discouraged. If you learn from the experience, you'll eventually succeed. * The next time someone challenges you about why you're studying archaeology -- or whatever (you know the words: "What on earth are you going to do with that?"), think back… …to when you were a kid and couldn't wait to get out of school to go roller-skating. Just smile and answer, "Because I want to." You can keep yourself motivated by taking at least one subject "just because." It won't lead to a degree, and it won't qualify you for a new job. But you'll look forward to the next class. And you never know -- it just might change your whole direction! I could go on, but you get the idea. When you're lost in the task at hand, stop, step back and take a fresh look. You'll gain perspective and a renewed enthusiasm for the job. Of course, you can't deny the realities of your life, but you can keep them from overcoming your potentialities. |
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