Keep on Learning
One is never too old to learn. Truth be told, “Older and Wiser” just means so much more in this day and age. It is a well know fact that life expectancy has increased significantly. It is imperative for men and women to educate themselves on how to delay the effects of aging not just for vanity reasons but for their health and survival as well as financial security in old age. For instance, Nobel Prize winners and other distinguished scientists have identified natural products including some phytonutients that can delay aging if not serve as antidotes against toxic substances that tend to cause many degenerative illnesses that afflict people of all ages. One would be wise to invest on natural health products even though they can be pricey. Because in many if not most cases, prevention is more cost effective than treatment of the illnesses themselves; especially since we have been repeatedly reminded about the progressive reduction and potential extinction of Medicare and social security benefits for the disabled and retired or older population. Thanks to all the rapid advancements made in Information Technology (which continues to this day), all of us can keep on learning and hopefully applying those practical and mostly affordable things that can help us attain and maintain the best quality of life we can possibly have at any given age. Read more…
Keep Learning
© Chuck Gallozzi
For more articles and contact information,
Visit http://www.personal-development.com/chuck
“Learning is not compulsory but neither is survival”.
(W. Edwards Deming)
“Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” said Henry Ford. Interestingly, medical research confirms his belief. Those who keep their minds active by studying, for example, poetry and music, or by learning foreign languages and gaining computer skills, seem to ward off Alzheimers disease. The brain, then, like the rest of our body, needs regular workouts to remain in good shape. Its the old rule of “use it or lose it.”
How shall we learn? The ways are too numerous to list, but lets consider some of the more obvious ones.
Learn from experience. Reading and studying is not learning, applying what you have studied is. We learn by doing. Experience is the greatest teacher. Of what value is knowledge, if it is unapplied? To truly benefit, we need to learn, digest, and apply knowledge.
Learn from your problems. Every problem is a solution waiting to be discovered or an opportunity for growth waiting to unfold. Cathy Lee Crosby, who has had her share of ups and downs, had this to say, “It seems that we learn lessons when we least expect them but always when we need them the most, and, the true gift in these lessons always lies in the learning process itself.”
Learn from your mistakes. On the one hand, more can be learned from what works than from what fails, but on the other hand more can be learned from our mistakes than from theory. This is why Igor Stravinsky said, “I have learned throughout my life as a composer chiefly through my mistakes and pursuits of false assumptions, not by my exposure to founts of wisdom and knowledge.” After a mistake or failure, don’t deny it or make excuses, but learn from it. Also learn from the mistakes of others, you can save yourself a lot of grief that way.
Learn by asking questions. Rudyard Kipling explains how he became a learned man, “I had six honest serving men. They taught me all I knew. Their names were: Where, What, When, Why, How and Who.” Cultivate curiosity and discover a world of endless wonder and ceaseless opportunities for learning.
Learn from others. Think of all you can learn by associating with smarter people! Smarter or not, we can learn from everyone, for they all know something we dont. Copy everything you like and avoid everything you dislike about others. Everyone we meet, then, is our teacher.
Learn by teaching.The best way to learn is to teach. And thats exactly what Im doing now by writing this article. When teaching, not only do we learn about the subject we teach, but we also learn how to organize our thoughts, do research, and develop our writing and or speaking skills.
Learn from your faults.Your shortcomings are your friends. They are pointing out ways you can improve yourself. Instead of running from your weaknesses, embrace them, for they are your road map to a brighter tomorrow. Use these faults as a reason to develop self-discipline, determination, and responsibility, so you can create a better you.
Learn from criticism. Dont fret over criticism. If its invalid, ignore it. If its unfair, forgive them. If its based on envy, be compassionate. But if it is a legitimate gripe, learn from it! And if you want to learn how to be a decent person, resist all temptation to offer constructive criticism to others. Criticism is always destructive, but when its hurled your way, forgive those who did so, and learn from it if you can.
Learn how to change your mind. Critics jumped on President George Bush for changing his views on stem cell research. But whenever we change our mind, isn’t that declaring that we know more today than we did yesterday? Isn’t that good? To grow, we have to learn how to give up some of our previously held ideas or beliefs. As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “The years teach us much the days never knew.”
Variety is the spice of life. Although it is necessary to focus on a subject to master it, enthusiasm is bound to ebb if we devote too much time to a single subject. From time to time, shift to a new one, it will not only broaden your view, but each new subject will infuse a fresh dose of enthusiasm into your study.
Seek the truth. How can you discover the truth unless you open the windows of your mind by being broad-minded? When you come across new knowledge, weigh the facts, study the pros and cons, be skeptical, use analytical thinking and rely on commonsense. For as Bertolt Brecht, the German physician, poet, and playwright, wrote, “Never believe on faith, see for yourself! What you yourself don’t learn you don’t know.” Read the full article….
© Chuck Gallozzi
For more articles and contact information,
Visit http://www.personal-development.com/chuck