Then we imagine the end result. We can see ourselves satisfied and benefiting from the change. We can look forward to the outcome of the adventure with anticipation, excitement and appreciation. We can enjoy the experience before it happens as if it's meant to be, perfect for right now and in line with our life aims.
With this combination of feeling and imagination in mind, learning simply happens. We happen to be motivated to acquire some new resources or search for some information. We may happen to get better questions to dawn on our minds. We will happen to run across some surprising experience which spawns some new insights, inquiries or discoveries.
We get the idea from all this that there is a flow to our learning naturally. Once we are immersed in this stream of continual satisfaction, it becomes clear how to stay in the flow or to derail the process. We can start with a good feeling, or try to learn by feeling worried, pressured and inadequate. We can imagine:
- how things will go from good to better or from bad to worse,
- how the world is supporting our exploration or is out to get us
- how what we want falls into place or how nothing goes our way without a fight
Oh I know that "learning pit" well, Tom. It's a continual challenge to me to pull myself out of it as sometimes I can lose touch with the feelings that let me know that's where I've landed. It's like what I wrote a few weeks ago about my stalled learning project. One thing I realized was that I was being dogged by a sense that I wasn't fascinated and excited by my plan, but I kept telling myself that I "shouldn't" feel that way, rather than honoring the feelings as being a clue that I needed to change course. I need to remember that for the next time, so thanks for the reminder. :-)
ReplyDeleteYour welcome Michele. Thanks for telling your readers to value my continual reflective practice. This issue of getting into the pits is also a big problem for my "mentees". I hope this added perspective on different particular feelings helps everyone start from a different place.
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