Reflections On Learning

I have been quiet on LinkedIn for a long time. These days, I managed to think about the moments when I learned something new in my life, whether small or big. Here are some personal reflections regarding learning in the real-world:

Learning is a transformation from a previous state of mind to a new state. Learning is a rebellion against yourself and your current mental status quo. Learners are rebellious in the sense that they constantly defy their own thinking, perspectives and behaviors. They continuously ask themselves: What if I am wrong? And what if I am stuck in my bubble? And what if there is a piece of truth that I am missing just because I am resisting? What if I am losing opportunities just because I did not notice them or bother to think about them?

Learners are incredibly daring and courageous. They start a battle in an attempt to be defeated; a battle against the previous self, a battle against anything that they take for granted; whether that thing looks old and outdated, or new as there might be something brighter and shinier than the old “new”. They humbly accept the defeat and celebrate it, proclaiming the victory of truth. They are lovers of wisdom, philosophers in its literal meaning. This way, they are continually breaking their shells and outgrowing themselves. Needless to say, learners cannot be snobs because snobbery contradicts the transformative nature of learning. Snobbery is about assuming a higher status and trying to maintain and reinforce that perception through formal or informal mechanisms and behaviors.

Once, I was watching a movie about the life of Nelson Mandela. In my opinion, he was an excellent example of a learner, and this was my take-home message from the movie. He transformed from an ordinary man with normal life (normal in the context of that time and place), thoughts and aspirations to a person who worked for a cause, to a person living the cause, and finally becoming a person who defined and redefined what that cause is. Therefore, the leadership capabilities did not come out of power, status or privilege, but from the inner strength he gained out of defeating his previous “selves”. He outgrew himself in a way that neither his friends in prison nor his wife could not keep up with him. Probably he could not recognize his previous selves, either. This transformation was so deep and meaningful that changed the history of a nation and the lives of so many people.

Learning is inherently liberating, not limiting. It shows you new possibilities and pathways, and thus, it is incapable of prescribing or dictating. It does not tell you which job you should choose or what kind of person you should become. If you find yourself in these situations, think again; it is probably schooling or organizational culture, or a political idea or a religion or an ideology or anything originated outside your mind. Learning is about making new connections in the brain and letting go of old perceptions and clichés. It is about an intentional attempt to break the old patterns. Over time, I realized that the more diverse groups of people I meet and the more diverse life stories I hear, the more knowledgeable I am becoming. This way, I am taking from the repository of impossibles and adding them to the repository of possibles. I have always loved reading biographies and listening to life stories, and now I understand why. Because partly consciously and partly subconsciously, I enjoy watching reality, as my hero, manifesting itself through different stories and making impossibles possible.

Learning is a secret journey and a personal adventure. Secret because nobody knows about your story unless you share it and personal because you cannot generalize it and suggest it to other people. I think we should redefine learning, knowledge and wisdom in a new way: These concepts are about the richness of your mental life and your enthusiasm, determination and commitment to change it for the better.