Check out this video about a guy trying to unlearn how to ride a bicycle. He found it extremely difficult to do. He began to realize that knowing how to ride a bike and understanding it are two different things. Sometimes, our minds prefer familiarity, a sense of order, or just keeping things the way they are. This rigidity affects how we behave towards change or learning something new.
For most people, change is a scary thing. The fear and the uncertainties of the unknown make people more apprehensive about changes. So, we stick to the status quo. We keep on with the same ideas and processes that may or may not have worked for us. No room for growth nor flexibility.
This mindset is well and good if the world is to remain in a rigid state. However, the reality is it constantly changes. In fact, we are currently living right in the thick of it and scrambling to make sense of the rapid transition required. As Charles Darwin said, “It is not the strongest or most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.” The catchphrases of the moment – “Survive or thrive” and “Adapt or die” couldn’t be more fitting.
Change motivates us to ask questions, re-align the status quo, and view what we already know from different angles. As a result, we level up from “knowing” to “understanding.” Our knowledge, mindset, and skills grow and develop. Change opens up opportunities for fresh perspectives, breakthrough ideas, and new solutions.
You need to unlearn what you think you know, strip yourself from any biases and assumptions, and rebuild from the ground up to maximize the full benefits of new learning.
Change is neither good nor bad. It really is about choosing how to look at it and deciding what to do when it hits.
Ray Jimenez, PhD
Vignettes Learning
“Helping Learners Learn Their Way”