How to learn something new

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at
twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning
stays young. The greatest thing in life is to
keep your mind young. - Henry Ford

Learning is a part of life. There's always something we've never before encountered. Do you remember the first time you had to set the clock in your car? Do you remember what it was like to get your first computer or iPad? We've all laughed about the trouble associated with programming a DVD (or VHS) recorder.

So, since learning is such an integral part of life, how can we become more efficient learners? It all begins with an understanding of how adults learn.

Learning is motivated by cognitive dissonance. That's just our way of identifying gap between what we know and what we need to know. If there isn't a gap, learning won't take place. So, the first step to learning something new is to identify the gap.

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Comment by Peter A Ferguson on August 14, 2012 at 7:19am: I recently started with a personal trainer and I am quickly learning that I am not 20 anymore, but man it is fun to push my body to new levels. Nothing bags of ice, Ibuprofen, a hot bath, several days of recovery, and yoga can't fix, right?

I'm always astounded at the learning process. There is the "wall" that you hit and want to give up. And often do at first. But then a second try and it becomes a bit easier until soon it is a habit and something that we do not think much about.

Pete