By Jernavis Draughn
What is the real currency in LEARNING? They say the more you learn the more you earn. There is no price tag on the amount you can learn in your personal space of gifting. We all have been blessed by God to use and help people in the world with our gifts. The most important DAY in our lives are, when were born and when we discover WHY. The most successful financially, mentally, emotionally and spiritual people are committed to lifelong LEARNING. They invest time, and place VALUE in the process of learning. Oprah Winfrey contributes her personal success to what she learned from mentors, friends, family members, books she’s read and life experiences. Learning have to become an intricate part of your daily rituals and daily schedule. Creating a personal growth plan and making it a daily goal to learn something new, will improve your overall life.
Listening is the only VEHICLE to learning. It is the major reason why schools are one of the biggest businesses in the world. As a student you go to school to LISTEN first, then respond and ask questions to engage in the lesson. For you to learn anything, you have to listen first. One common reason relationships DO NOT endure and our divorce rate continues to increase, is because we fail to hear and listen to our partner. We are so quick to respond or rebut, because of our “selfish gene”. We NEED to focus on learning our partner in order to understand what they value, what their needs are, and what are their beliefs and love languages. “Any fool can know, the point is to understand.”-Albert Einstein
Lastly, Learning is the only true path to WEALTH. Warren Buffett once said, you have to define your circle of competence.” That takes mastery. Learning yourself and learning what you believe you can become really good or great in. You must sit down and study your craft in order to understand what area you want to master. Learning increases the opportunities of you becoming more successful in anything you do.
I am concerned about the school system because I think it is flawed on the methodology of HOW they are teaching students. I believe you have to value, then be influenced and lastly inspired by something/someone in order to truly enjoy the learning process.
If you ask a person why they decided to learn a particular topic, they usually will tell you how it made them feel, how it changed their state, how it improved their life, their relationships, how it caused them to grow, how it help their understanding of things, or how it influenced their belief. Before learning occurs, you first place value on the topic and the person you’re learning from. Then you choose to listen to them, take notes, and focus more on the point they are making. It’s called “Active Listening”, where you listen with the intent to understand. You value what that person is saying. This is why mentors and parents are so essential to personal growth.
I suggest that we commit to lifelong learning today or be left behind. Information is coming at a very fast pace these days and so you have to be a continuous learner in order to keep up with the times. Those who value learning the most will remain successful and will become pioneers through understanding the constant innovations of an ever changing world.
Quote of the Day: “Don’t Just”
Don’t just learn, experience.
Don’t just read, absorb.
Don’t just change, transform.
Don’t just relate, advocate.
Don’t just promise, prove.
Don’t just criticize, encourage.
Don’t just think, ponder.
Don’t just take, give.
Don’t just see, feel.
Don’t just dream, do.
Don’t just hear, listen.
Don’t just talk, act.
Don’t just tell, show.
Don’t just exist, live.
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart