“Knowledge is learning something new every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day.”
–Zen Proverb
As with most Zen proverbs, the quote above is both complicated and simple. The concept is beautiful in its simplicity. You can benefit by learning something new every day. You can benefit by letting go of memories and beliefs that are not serving you. Right now, let’s focus on learning.
Is this you? You get so caught up in your daily routine that you overlook learning opportunities. Logically you understand the importance of keeping your skills and your knowledge fresh, yet you have a hard time keeping up.
To learn something new every day does not imply that you attend a class every
day, that you read a book every day or that you create a new Wikipedia entry
every day.
Some days your learning will be formal and planned and perhaps really, really
challenging. Some days your learning is a lot less formal.
- Maybe you take a new route to work and you drive through a new neighborhood.
There are so many learning opportunities all around you, just waiting to be
discovered. All you need to do is pause, look and listen. None of the above required any real heavy lifting on your part. You can acquire knowledge through formal education and you can acquire knowledge by keeping your eyes and ears open. Why not include a bit of each type of learning in your life, every day?
Too often I hear the laments of professionals who fear that they have fallen behind in their chosen field. I get it. It is hard to maintain a career and a life and keep learning. The key is not to think of learning as an extra. The key is to include learning as part of your career.
Start building your knowledge and wisdom today. Ask yourself, what will I learn
today or what have I learned today?
And then tomorrow, wake up and do it all over again.
Questions about the human side of the workplace? I am here for you, contact me at Ask@MargaretMeloni.com.
