The #1 Question You Should Be Asking Yourself
not quite clear on the concept by WWWorks on Flickr
It’s easy to find ourselves stuck in the grind of everyday. We get into the same weekly routine and take little time to think about what we are actually doing (how many times have you thought to yourself: “Wow, where did the day/week/month go?”)
Are you growing? Are you pushing yourself forward? There is a question that I ask myself at the end of every week. It is simple:
What did I learn last week?
The secret to moving forward, in life, in school, in a job, anywhere, is that you have to be constantly learning and growing, and be aware of that learning and growth. Some things to think about when you ask yourself this question:
1. Internalize information.
Internalizing is essential in this time of information overload. We are constantly wired in. We are surrounded by news, by information, breaking stories and investigative reports. You scroll through hundreds of stories on Google Reader, but how much are you actually internalizing. What are you learning? Write something down and talk about it.
Introspection by e3000 on Flickr
2. Find learning in unexpected places.
I think of every experience as an opportunity to learn about myself. Even the crappy ones. Sometimes we learn the most when things go wrong. Instead of complaining about it (and wasting energy), ask yourself, “What have I learned about myself from this experience?” and move on.
3. Don’t over-think.
Studying abroad in Spain, I stress every week over whether I’ve spent my time wisely or whether I’m learning enough. But that doesn’t mean you should! Special experiences like college or study abroad aren’t about absorbing every little detail; they are about constantly growing as a person. Be aware of your growth, don’t stalk it.
We were just having this conversation with friends about how you guys have learned to ask the question about an experience that triggers something in you “what is this about?” – meaning what’s the learning here. You know my favorite line: The good news is that you get as many chances as you need in life to learn what you have come to learn, if we ignore repeated opportunities to learn something, sometimes that is also the bad news