One motivating factor for me to apply for the Data School was its focus on candidates with the potential to become good data analysts. They don't need prior experience as analysts but should have successfully learned something challenging in the past (see this article by Tom Brown, founder of The Information Lab). Having spent many years learning various skills and becoming a professional in roles such as an academic, teacher, dancer, and now a data analyst, I've frequently reflected on how we can become better learners and what makes learning engaging and enjoyable.
In this post, I'll focus on mental and emotional aspects of learning. Why do our mental processes and emotions matter? Because they drive our behavior, including our approach to learning. Unlike Vulcans, we are often driven by emotions, whether we realize it or not.
Think about the typical positive and negative emotions that accompany your learning experiences. Positive emotions can be excitement, passion, inspiration, and creativity. Negative ones might include frustration, stress, overwhelm, and shame. While positive emotions motivate us to learn, negative emotions like shame can sometimes spur us into action. More often, though, they demotivate us, making learning unenjoyable or even halting it altogether. To become better or more motivated learners, we must learn to manage these negative emotions.
The first step is to identify and name these emotions, which is already a huge step. Then, we have to face these emotions and uncover their origins, which is a more challenging process. Interestingly, the negative emotions that impede our learning are often rooted in false beliefs about ourselves. For instance, if you think you said something dumb in class, you might feel ashamed and become reluctant to participate. While your answer might not have perfectly fit the question, that doesn't mean it was foolish. Others might also find your idea inspiring. When we come from an educational environment where original ideas weren't encouraged, we often judge ourselves harshly. We need to change these false beliefs to become free explorers and curious learners again.
Pay attention to negative emotions during learning. If possible, delve deeper, process them, and change any unhelpful beliefs, such as 'I can't give a good presentation' or 'Nothing I create is good enough.' Reframe these into positive statements like 'I can improve my presentation skills by doing ...' or 'I appreciate these aspects of my work: ...'
Another common cognitive pitfall in learning is focusing solely on the next achievement or goal without appreciating what we've already accomplished. This mindset can be devastating, as it traps you in a loop of feeling inadequate. An exercise that has helped me a lot is journaling about what I appreciate about myself and my achievements. Reflect on the effort you've put into completing tasks or reaching goals, and give yourself credit. Learn to talk to yourself as you would to a dear friend.
Not only do companies benefit from employees with a healthy learning mindset, but individual happiness also increases significantly when we approach learning—and life—with positivity, curiosity, and joy.