Why Learning Something New Feels So Hard(and Why It’s Worth It)
Photo by RDNE Stock project
This time of year often invites us back into routine. Kids and young adults are back in school, Friday Night Lights have returned, and there seems to be a collective sigh that life is back on a familiar schedule. Yet, ironically, it’s also a season for new beginnings, fresh opportunities, and unexpected growth.
As children, we relied on each school year to bring new challenges, lessons, and experiences. As adults, we don’t have the same built-in opportunities. While routine and predictability can provide stability, they can also bring complacency.
Whoever said, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” didn’t have access to today’s neuroscience. Research shows that we can absolutely change our behaviors, thoughts, and actions, and continue to learn throughout our lives. We literally have the ability to create new neuropathways in our brains. That’s exciting! And also—let’s be honest—challenging.
Recently, I committed to learning how to play my husband’s favorite game: Cribbage. What I thought would be a fun shared activity quickly became a lesson in patience and persistence. The learning process was frustrating, and I wanted to quit more than once. My husband, ever patient (even when I accused him of making up new rules), kept playing with me. The game hurt my brain—it felt complicated and impossible at times. But I stuck with it. Defeat after defeat, until finally, I won a game! You’d think I’d won the lottery. That moment was my reminder: the reward of learning something new is not only growth but also the deep satisfaction of perseverance.
Learning requires more than just holding on to what we know. It calls us to sift through what still serves us, release what doesn’t, and make room for curiosity and wonder. That openness often leads us to our most remarkable discoveries.
Right now, my husband and I are in Crested Butte on our annual trip. We love revisiting our favorite hikes and mountain bike trails, but we also make it a point to explore new paths. Just last night, while listening to live music, we heard the singer share his favorite camping spot. Curious, we looked it up and discovered a new hike we’d never considered. We set out the next day—and it was stunning, peaceful, and absolutely worth the adventure. (See below)
The truth is: if we aren’t open to new experiences, we’re leaving some of life on the table. We don’t need to know it all or do it all—but we can embrace the unfolding that comes with learning and discovery.
So, what new thing can you learn this year? The reward might surprise you.
Enjoy the stretch,
Martha Lynn
Fundamental of the Week #17: BE DEDICATED TO PERSONAL GROWTH
Be a lifetime learner by challenging yourself to take risks and operate outside your comfort zone. Solicit feedback, learn from mistakes, and apply that learning. The magic happens when you understand problems as opportunities for breakthroughs.
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