Situation report
"Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature's inexorable imperative."- H. G. Wells
The world is changing, faster than it ever has before.
In times of change, to survive, and thrive we need to adapt.
This evolutionary process requires us to learn as a species, and as individuals.
The ability to learn new things is therefore a critical and valuable skill, for everyone.
Fortunately, the human brain is designed for this, and we all have the ability to learn new things.
It seems then, that the obvious next question is "What should I learn about?".
Unfortunately, it is the wrong next question. It has no specific answer, especially for those that are not ready to ask it.
When we search for the answer to this question we are likely to consult our feelings or current state of being.
It is a reason that the self-learning and self-help industry has exploded in recent years. Aimed at capturing our attention and dollars by targeting those of us asking the question "What do I need to know to get better?", "What should I do with my life?". And the industry is getting more efficient at it with the rise of social media and AI.
It is at the point when we're already feeling unbalanced, and some sort of internal crisis that we ask these questions.
We try to learn about personal finance after already being in debt.
We try to learn about focus when we've already cultivated a busy and distracted calendar.
We try to get healthy and in shape after facing a health scare, or are not feeling confident in our own skin.
This is the path towards more anxiety, stress, and distraction.
What is missing when we feel empty is not information or how-to guides.
So, what is a better question?
The better question is: "How?"
"How can we learn new things?"
The answer to this question is a long one. A book perhaps. With multiple parts. It requires that we understand our own humanity; that we understand our unique self; and of course, the fundamental principles of the learning process.
Not a how-to book, but a starting point for anyone wanting to start their self-learning journey.
The best self-help book is the one you are going to write yourself.
"How" is the question.