If you have a hunger for learning, and at this stage, when you don’t know where to start, this article is for you.
I want to help you by sharing some life-changing principles from my own experience that has made my learning path easier and interesting.
At this stage, which I am discussing here, you need to set your focus, goals, and habits; otherwise, you will give up on the first round.
It’s your lifestyle that must change, and if you do that, you will be amazed by the results!
If you use a blunt ax, you have to make a double effort, therefore, sharpen the blade. Therein lies the value of wisdom: it helps you succeed. Ecclesiastes 10 10
You will make less effort if you work wisely.
Focus
Where there is no vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29 18
No matter if we may want to finish our studies, get better scores, improve our work … to start, we need focus.
It’s our inner vision, the desires within our hearts. It’s what drives us. It helps us direct our gaze toward a goal.
As you see, your path becomes clearer to your eyes, and it seems that impossible things become probable; thus, our focus becomes a course of action.
If you don’t have a topic yet, I recommend readings, lectures, videos, conversations, and more information of interest to you as good starting points to set your aspirations; pick one, and get started!
If you find it difficult to decide on one, I recommend choosing a cross-cutting theme, and as you progress, you will lean towards one or the other subject. Be careful not to get too scattered!
Goals
We need to set clear and achievable goals in a short time, short and simple. Something like small steps towards our vision that give us gratification in the shortest possible time. That gratification produces in us the spirit to go on to the next step and the next.
Imagine a path of stones in the water. No stone should be too far apart from the other to reach the next one with a small jump. If they are too far apart, we could take a good dip!
Habits
Here is why demotivation comes, and we give up: bad habits and believing that we can achieve anything through willpower and it is not. Maybe you can do it a few times, but no more.
Habits help us to be consistent and keeping running, not willpower!
Habits are small repetitive acts, which eventually become part of us. At first, they start out being conscious and repetitive work that requires effort, but we automatically do them without even thinking before long.
Start by making your bed, putting away your laptop cables when not in use, throwing out the trash, do little things that make you feel satisfied with an accomplished goal. You will feel so pleased that in time you will challenge yourself, and you will be motivated to meet more ambitious goals.
Stumble
Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16 18
Failing helps you recognize that you have to deal with your character, customs, and relationships. It reminds you that you must change and start again.
Don’t worry if you stumble or if you don’t meet your high expectations. The best things always start small. Give yourself room to make mistakes but keep moving forward!
Recognizes that if you want to succeed sometimes, you must fail. Only then, you become a simpler and warmer person who knows how to appreciate others and the little things that matter.
In Brief
You will make less effort if you work wisely.
Our focus becomes a course of action.
We must understand where we are and ‘see’ the way to set our steps properly.
Habits help us to be consistent and keeping running.
Don’t worry if you stumble or if you don’t meet your high expectations; the most important thing here is: you are moving!
