Some of friends commented that my posts in this blog are only related to technology. So, I thought I will also post something not related to technology for a change. (Of course I do hope, I will be able to post more such, in future!)
A couple of years back, I was very much impressed by the idea on Stages of Learning, put forward by Dr. Wayne Dyer. I was quite fond of his books, and purchased quite a few of them. Even today, whenever I get time I go through these books. Also, it is great to read his books, when you're down. It gives a lot of inspiration.
The Stages of Learning -- anything that you come across, whether it is a child learning how to walk, or a teenager on his first job, or those of us from technology learning a new programming language or a typical way of doing new things -- we go through 5 phases. According to Dyer, these are Panic, Inertia, Striving, Coping and Mastery.
As may be very clear to everyone, whenever we come across a particular situation for the first time, it is cause for Panic. We don't know how to face it. Dyer gives the example of punctured tyre of vehicle while you're on a long trip, with no assistance seen nearby. First few moments, you're totally immobilized. This is true of any situation or new learning.
Next few moments are those of Inertia. You are just not able to go forward. You know, that you're facing a problem and you have to solve it. But you just cannot. Sometimes I am astonished at the number of people who "quit" at this point of time. You tend to rationalize that such-and-such is very difficult or "it is just not for me" etc. But as they say, the tough people go beyond this stage quite quickly.
At least, they reach the next stage -- Striving. When you reach this stage, you're trying hard to achieve, what you want. Yes there could initial hiccups. But you work towards overcoming all these, and want to succeed in your learning.
Depending on the effort you put in and how fast a learner you are, you will soon reach a point where we could say you are Coping well. Here you feel comfortable. You know that you can do it, and the worst is behind you.
But, it is rather unfortunate that many people leave it at that. They feel quite complacent, or think that it is good enough. But the most important stage in this 5 stages of learning, is the last one -- Mastery. This is beyond Coping. You have to do deep into it. If you're sure that you have learned a particular task because you feel it is important, it is just not sufficient that you know it -- you have to be a master at it.
Reaching the last stage -- that was most important message I have learned from Dr. Dyer's stages of learning. This has also influenced me a lot whether it is related to career or associated with hobby. Yes, I have read some variants of the same theme depicted by other authors also. May be different words, but quite often I have seen this repeated by many successful people. They just do not rest when everyone does. They go beyond -- and achieve Mastery.
Bye for now.
