Personal Development: Learning how to think vs. Learning what to do

Learning is a fundamental part of our lives and a continuous process that starts from birth and continues until death. While there are many ways to approach learning, two basic approaches stand out: learning how to think and learning what to do. While these two approaches may seem similar, they are fundamentally different and the way in which we choose to approach our learning can have a profound impact on our lives.

Learning what to do is essentially the process of acquiring knowledge and skills. This learning type focuses on gaining information, following directions, and mastering techniques. Learning what to do is vital for day-to-day tasks and can help us perform jobs and complete tasks efficiently. However, knowing what to do is limited in its ability to help us navigate complex situations and make decisions.

On the other hand, learning how to think focuses on developing our cognitive abilities and cultivating critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This type of learning is not limited to any specific subject but rather helps us to understand how to think and approach problems and challenges more effectively. Learning how to think properly enables us to see the world from different perspectives, consider various options and weigh the consequences of our decisions. This allows us to make informed decisions and tackle challenges more effectively.

One of the reasons that learning how to think is more important than learning what to do is that our world is constantly changing, and new challenges arise all the time. The information we acquire through learning what to do can become outdated or irrelevant, but the skills we develop through learning how to think are transferable and applicable in any situation. Additionally, learning how to think properly equips us with the tools we need to adapt to new situations and continuously improve our knowledge and skills. Ultimately, learning how to think can enable us to conquer our fears and move forward in a better way throughout life.

For example, in certain (most, some may say) environments we find ourselves in, many of us will find ourselves afraid of something and unable to progress efficiently through that environment, or at least not as efficiently as we'd like. No judgment here, we're all afraid of something. However, some of these fears are irrational and can be thwarted. Ultimately, we can align nearly any negative sentiment or state we are in with a corresponding fear. If one is lazy, that person is likely afraid of responsibility or work. If one is unmotivated, it could be that they are afraid of exploring unknown territory. If one lacks vision, it could be that that person is afraid of themselves or their potential. It goes much deeper than that, but you get the idea.

Bravery and courage come when the fear of becoming your most dark and abysmal person overpowers the fear of moving forward and realizing your potential. If that hasn't happened, then it's not likely that you've spent time thinking about how bad life actually could be if you let everything go bad. Jordan Peterson stated, "the anxiety of where you don't want to end up should chase you and where you do want to end up should pull you. You want to get your fear behind you, pushing you so you can become more afraid of not pursuing your goals than you are of pursuing them."

While both learning what to do and learning how to think are essential, learning how to think and organize your thoughts should not take a backseat to simply learning what to do. By prioritizing learning how to think, we can equip ourselves with the tools we need to lead successful and fulfilling lives. Cheers!