Learning, inertia and bad habits
I have been experimenting with my brain in the past few weeks to figure out a lot of things about myself. Most of these things have got one common theme: trying to be in control of myself, when I want. One of the lessons I’ve learnt along-way is about learning – the process by which mind gains new knowledge (not just new data). Memorization primarily involves the ability to store and retrieve data, learning involves the ability to store concepts, which can be applied to new and previously not experienced scenarios. While learning itself is a complex process, I’m going to point out a small observation about one of the parts of the process of learning – the part when we start learning a new concept.
Learning something new involves, by virtue of the word “new”, learning a new idea / concept – something which your brain has never created a pattern for. Often this should alter the way you think about something existing or add a completely new fundamental idea.
This is where inertia comes in. While the new concept maybe unusual for the brain, it may or may not be hard for it to comprehend. Most of the hard part comes from the inertia to absorbing that new concept. Instead of working on the details of the concept, the brain starts evaluating the effects of inertia and we end up feeling that the concept is difficult, that we are not suitable enough to understand it. Note that this happens without actually evaluating what the concept actually is. Further, this creates a negative and demotivating feeling inside us, and we end up either giving up or partially understanding the new idea (which is equally useless).
And soon this process becomes a bad habit. Unfortunately, we even fail to classify this repeated pattern as a bad habit – we just end up classifying the new knowledge as hard or simple.
It is important to always remember the difference between memorization and learning. The initial inertia will always be a part of learning something new – that is, if you have picked up the bad habit of learning things the wrong way. It is however not very difficult to kick the habit out. The first step is definitely identifying that you are a victim of that habit, and then creating your own techniques to knock it off. While I’m still in the process of knocking it off, I cannot explain the joy that I get now while learning something new. I am very curious and eager to see what would happen when I am completely out of it.
Conventions, way of life and dogmas
Stumbled upon Steve Jobs’ famous Stanford speech of 2005 which I’ve read a couple of times in past. One phrase in particular caught my attention this time which I’d like to post here:
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
Find the full text of the speech here:
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html
We must remember that most of the customs, traditions (& religion) and way of life that we lead are not more than 500-600 years old. They may not be the ideal ways to lead life – the institutions created (religion, education, jobs, marriage and even the way of life) may not be the perfect ones. It makes a lot of sense to use your own pragmatic mind, heart and intuitions to evaluate the existing systems and create your institutions, your way of life (which is aligned with your personality and goals in life). Learn, observe, read and practice to create your beliefs, your way of life – the first 20-25 years of most of us are guided by someone else’s will (parents, teachers, peer pressures etc). While that would have given a direction to your life and would have definitely taught you a lot of good things, all of it might not be suitable for you.
It is really compelling to explore and find out what is suitable for you, what are your takeaways from past and what are the things that you are passionate about now!
belongs_to :people
Each one of us has a set of distinctive traits / characteristics. Most of the time, we are not aware of them. Unfortunately or fortunately, these traits, the way you use them, the way you develop new ones in life – have a massive share in the way you lead your life and the way you maintain your uniqueness.
Most of us are also not aware, that we develop these traits by doing things which have absolutely no direct relation to those traits. At times, you do this in awareness and but most of the time in ignorance (which is where the fun lies) – and this is where people around you really screw you up. An example:
We’ve all heard big people say – find your passion in life! Right? Now you generally need to be a passionate human being to find that and pursue that. If you are not passionate enough, you will never find a passion which pulls you in to a degree that you start doing great (as they say) things in life. How do you become a passionate human being? Do you buy a potion, drink it up and become a passionate human being?
I observed, analyzed and thought about the small fundamental events that help you develop these traits. And from whatever I observed, you naturally and unknowingly get these traits from the small and weird things you do in life.
For example, say you like a new song that’s come out – you download it and play it in an infinite loop and keep playing it for days. You know what? You’re adding passion to your personality – you are developing a trait which probably you would need to do good things in life. And you are doing that in ignorance (mostly – come on who listens to a song repeatedly just to develop passion?) .
Unfortunately, this is where people (friends, family and all the near and dear ones) start screwing you up big time – they ask too many questions, they form opinions, without understanding what you want from life they start pushing you for something they believe in, they basically stop your self development! And what a sin! You stop being original, you are forced to be someone you are not, you are forced to kill the development of your original traits and instincts that could have placed you in a better position to live your life (by understanding self)! What a crime – you just get to live once!
You must always remember that it is only you and you who would know what you want from life at any moment. Be free in your thoughts – freedom in all sense. As an individual you are free to do anything in life which you feel is appropriate. Get the freedom to choose, to live your life your way. You will end up doing weird things, but that’s what will shape up your life in a unique way.
It is very hard to find people around you who would appreciate that freedom. Try to hang out with them more often. Try to (mentally) stay away from people who question you a lot unnecessarily (without trying to understand why you’re upto something), people who always either do “right” or “wrong” things, people who can have a negative effect on your thoughts and will deprive you from the fun you might have in your life. It’s not their fault – they are simply not aware what they’re doing.
Sad demise of Prof.Randy Pausch
Randy Pausch, renowned computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, died July 25 of complications from pancreatic cancer at the age of 47. Celebrated in his field for co-founding the pioneering Entertainment Technology Center and for creating the innovative educational software tool known as “Alice,” Pausch earned his greatest worldwide fame for his inspirational “Last Lecture.” That life-affirming lecture, a call to his students and colleagues to go on without him and do great things, was delivered at Carnegie Mellon on Sept. 18, 2007, a few weeks after Pausch learned he had just months to live. Titled “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” the humorous and heartfelt talk was videotaped, and unexpectedly spread around the world via the Internet. Tens of millions of people have since viewed video footage of it. Pausch, who had regularly won awards in the field of computer science, spent the final months of his life being lauded in arenas far beyond his specialty. ABC News declared him one of its three “Persons of the Year” for 2007, while Time magazine named him to its list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Pausch was well-known within the academic community for developing interdisciplinary courses and research projects that attracted new students to the field of computer science. He also spent his career encouraging computer scientists to collaborate with artists, dramatists and designers.
Picked from my ACM’s daily doze: ACM TechNews, Friday, July 25, 2008
Watch the inspiring video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo
and read more about him here:
http://download.srv.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/
And…
Keep changing your reference point. If you don’t you will never grow. It is very important to compete and compete relative to where you are!
Choice!
Choice is what defines our path in life – it defines what you do, what you don’t, what shape you give to your life.
Make sure you “really” know what you want to do in life , explore options which would help you get there, “choose” a path wisely and spend time working towards that (and not working on stupid things that don’t make sense & waste your time!).
Remember, people may influence your decision, but it is you who eventually takes it! Have the privilege to make your own choice – always remember you are here for a finite time.
Nice thought
Few more tips for my own self to work better
Concentrate on improving the following while you work-
Fast Learning:
- Anything can be learnt / unlearnt
- Ask the right questions – logical, relevant and objective
- Explore your intuitions – sometimes you just seem to know what to do; at least try to explore them!
Setting Right Priorities:
- Do whatever that gives you max pleasure – be honest and accurate in finding that out – not being able to determine that, often makes people waste time in something less important!
Practice
- To be more predictive!
- But don’t rely on memory – be logical
Intuitive
- If you are damn confident about something – just do it! Don’t wait for support (if you get the right support – that’ll add up to the speed of execution), JUST DO IT! If there are people involved, convince them to trust you (if you are so confident)
Don’t Announce
- It just spoils the fun somehow. Discuss, but don’t announce. Take feedback, but don’t give up your self belief. Be flexible, but don’t be “just” flexible. An idea can never work or not work. It’s the honesty of purpose, the spirit of people involved and persistence above all that gets things rolling. It is very difficult to predict what works and what doesn’t!
Create your own mind-space – avoid stupid thoughts, stupid people and stupid distractions
Giving up priorities – setting "a priority"
I have been experimenting with my working style for quite some time. For the next few months, I wanted to pick a way of working which makes me most efficient.
Unfortunately or fortunately, it is hibernation!
So, for the next few months it’s just going to be work & music for me.
So, while I test myself on my own parameters, stay with me! I’ll be back in a couple of months!
