Noon Mul

People learn because they want to be competent, challenge themselves, and know about the world. Learning makes our life more interesting and dynamic. But if something is too hard to learn, why do it?

A boulder might kill you, but breaking it into tiny rocks won’t.

Get comfortable with feeling dumb,

I initially began computer science classes because I wanted to make my own website. I barely passed my first class in python because the concepts were so foreign to me. For my next class, I was prepared to feel dumb.

What does walking and learning have in common? You move at a pace until you get to your destination. Then there’s running, which is just walking, but faster.

When running, breathe and the body become a rhythm that propels the motion. It’s impossible to not breathe. When solving a problem using deep focus, we unconsciously hold our breath and the oxygen deprived brain begins to hate the subject. We have to remember to breathe.

it means you’re growing.

Watching foreign shows is a good opportunity to jot down vocabulary and grammar from subtitles. But watching the show takes twice, sometimes three times as long. I just want to find out if the protagonist gets their revenge. When does learning hijack leisure? I asked myself, isn’t my recreational time sacred? But like going to a museum or touring a landmark, which I never questioned as both educational and recreational, I realized there are more learning opportunities where we can save two birds with one nest.

Being a novice at something is the start of growth. It’s smart to put ourselves in situations where we would struggle and feel dumb. People who want comfort, what the learning process threatens, might pick up something and lose interest when it gets difficult. To push past this necessary stage, embrace feeling dumb because it means you’re growing.