First Post - 7-1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners

The habit I have the most trouble with is #4 - "Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner."





Learning is exciting! I feel great pride when I learn something new.





However, these positive feelings do not happen until after I have accomplished my learning goal. At the beginning of the project I always have a sense of dread. I feel that I will never be able to achieve my goal; it will be too great for me. I fight these feelings by making positive statements about the task. I use phrases like, "This will be fun!", "I've always wanted to know how to do this.", "I'm excited to learn this!" or in the words of habit #3 "This will be a challenge!"





Once I finish the task I feel great. I mean really fantastic. I want to brag about it, tell everyone I meet what I have accomplished. It is a truly wonderful feeling. But getting started on the journey that will end in these feelings is difficult and honestly this difficulty sometimes keep me from even starting. Procrastination is easy for me. Much easier than fighting through my lack of confidence.





The habits that are easiest for me are numbers 1 and 7: "Begin with the end in mind" and "Teach or mentor others".





I have no problem establishing goals. As a matter of fact establishing an exciting goal is another way I have of fighting my lack of confidence. When I remind myself of the end product, of what it is I want to do, I get excited and my energy is renewed.





I also love to teach and share what I've learned with others. It is exciting to lead an individual through the learning process. It is fascinating to see how a person is changed by what they learn.