Tear the Burrito Open and Play with It: Three Tips for Engaging Deeply in Adult Learning and Personal Growth

Tear the Burrito Open and Play with It: Three Tips for Engaging Deeply in Adult Learning and Personal Growth

This morning, while having breakfast with my 1-year-old and mentally preparing for the third day of my coaching course, I found myself grappling with some complex concepts related to leadership development. Then I noticed my son eating his breakfast burrito. And by “eating,” I mean tearing it open, exploring it with curiosity, and having no regard for the “right” way to eat a burrito.

It hit me—this is exactly how I want to approach my learning today.

As adults, we often put so much pressure on ourselves to master things quickly, do it “right,” and avoid looking like we don’t know what we’re doing. But my son’s approach—curiosity, exploration, and a sense of play—reminded me of three important lessons that research supports and that can help us engage more deeply in adult learning, leadership development, and personal growth.

1. Tear It Open: Ditch the Ego

My son never worries about looking foolish. He doesn’t care if he’s “doing it right”—he just dives in, exploring and learning as he goes. As adults, we often carry the burden of ego, feeling the need to appear competent and in control. But studies show that letting go of our ego is crucial to real learning, whether in business or personal development.

Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindset demonstrates that focusing on effort and improvement instead of protecting our self-image allows us to embrace challenges, persist through difficulties, and ultimately learn more effectively. In other words, when we stop worrying about appearances and start diving into new experiences, we open ourselves up to genuine personal and professional growth—key elements in leadership development and coaching.

2. Go All In: Embrace Curiosity

My son approaches every new experience with unfiltered curiosity—pulling things apart, testing, and learning as he goes. This is a powerful way for adults to learn as well. Instead of being confined to what we think we know, we should approach learning with the same curiosity and openness, especially in the context of executive coaching or leadership training.

Neuroscience backs this up: Curiosity activates the brain's learning circuits. Studies by Dr. Matthias Gruber show that when we are curious, our brains release dopamine, which enhances memory and learning. So, the more questions we ask and the more we explore, the deeper our engagement and retention become—whether we’re focusing on leadership development, executive coaching, or personal growth.

3. Play with It: Bring Playfulness into Learning

Watching my son tear apart his burrito reminded me that learning doesn’t have to be rigid or serious. He played with his food, experimenting and discovering as he went. As adults, incorporating playfulness into learning can unlock new ways of thinking and problem-solving.

Psychologist Lev Vygotsky’s work on play shows that engaging in play allows us to test ideas in a low-pressure environment, sparking creativity and innovation. For adults, play also triggers neuroplasticity, helping our brains form new connections, making learning more efficient and lasting. By embracing a playful approach, we create space for experimentation and growth in both life and work, which is critical in leadership development and personal growth.

So What? - Further Implications

These lessons from watching my son eat a burrito remind me that learning is not a linear or rigid process—it’s messy (sometimes uncomfortable), exploratory, and often surprising. As I move forward in my own career and personal development, I’m reminded to take a cue from how children approach the world: with less ego, more curiosity, and an openness to play. Tonight is spaghetti night, maybe I’ll join him and eat it with my hands and see what I learn—at the very least we can laugh together. Maybe that's the real lesson here, I keep thinking I have things to teach him and that I need to be a great role model, but I'm reminded I have just as much to learn from him. Thanks, buddy!