In this issue: Grow(th) Up…The Paradox of Learning and Our Shrinking Brains

In this issue: Grow(th) Up…The Paradox of Learning and Our Shrinking Brains / Small talk should be banned | WIRED UK / The Hidden Link Between Workaholism and Mental Health  /The Lighter Side of Learning New Things

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I'm Andrea J. Miller and this is my “On Leading Well” Newsletter. I send this to people in my networks, people I’ve met recently, and friends I want to keep in touch with. You can unsubscribe (SEE THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE EMAIL) anytime, I won’t be offended

Grow(th) Up…The Paradox of Learning and Our Shrinking Brains

Every day the rate of change in our world gets just a little bit faster, while for most of us, our personal processing ability slows down.

Did you know that our brains stop growing around age 25?

And even more disturbing is that they actually start to shrink in our 30s and 40s.

But it’s not all bad news for those of us over 30.

Some of our cognitive abilities have been shown to improve.

In fact, adults over 50 actually performed better on verbal ability, spatial reasoning, math, and abstract reasoning tests than they did when they were younger.

Whatever the exact age and stage, what is clear is that we can and should keep learning throughout our lives.

Unfortunately, our neurons and synapses didn’t get the memo.

So often what used to be easy to pick up, might not be anymore.

And frustration and resistance can start to set in.

Which is why it’s time for a reframe.

One of the keys to changing this experience lies in understanding what really drives and motivates us as we get older, that infamous “why?”

As we age learning changes from the things that drove us earlier in our lives, like getting good grades or finding ways to get your parents off your back (writing really can be such a cathartic process : ) to one centered more around personal growth.

At its best, it’s about those things that really capture our interest or at least capture it enough to stop us from seeking the next new shiny object, which is no easy feat in a world filled with shiny objects.

What Doesn’t Kill You…

Because the learning process doesn’t come as easily and our motivation can wane, the process of learning something new often feels deeply uncomfortable.

We believe it should pick it up more quickly because that’s how it used to be.

This can make us more likely to give up despite our initial interest or need.

The doubt creeps in and we may even believe that we’re just not good enough to master it….and, at that moment that’s probably true.

AND that doesn’t matter.

Because that’s an old metric that doesn’t work to define and solve a new problem.

Our brains change and that’s just a reality we have to deal with.

Growth isn’t only about getting it right the first or even the second time, it’s about getting it wrong as many times as it takes until you eventually do get it right …or not.

If it was, I probably would’ve given up writing this newsletter after my first few mishaps, but I decided the only way to get better at writing and the process was by doing (with varying levels of suffering depending on the week :).

The point is our ability to learn and unlearn (or at least make space for the new info, as unlearning is something of a fallacy) has never been more critical.

And depending on the context, how quickly you pick it up isn’t necessarily that important.

In fact, learning at a slower pace can be more beneficial. Research shows that learning more slowly can help us focus better, understand more and retain even more than the person who took less time.

We can’t slow down how quickly things are changing in our world, but we can increase our willingness to learn and meet the challenges that are coming with these changes and in the process, become happier and more fulfilled over time.

In the now-famous Harvard study on Happiness, George Valliant found that some of the happiest people were those he called “keepers of the meaning”, or “wisdom keepers.” They were those who shared what they’d learned with others, like their coworkers, students, and community.

However, a Harvard degree isn’t required to develop this capacity.

Nor is it bound by age or another context.

Intelligence isn’t as fixed as the standardized tests you took in high school or the negative feedback you were given in the past.

It’s a choice.

No matter what age or stage you’re at, there are always opportunities to learn something new and grow.

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RECOMMENDED LISTENS, READS And other interesting things

Small talk should be banned | WIRED UK

Small talk prevails because of the need to find a socially acceptable topic. But when it's removed, it changes the game

The Hidden Link Between Workaholism and Mental Health

Long hours on the job can temporarily ease the symptoms of depression and anxiety. But you’re better off leaving the office and facing your feelings head-on.

The Lighter Side of Learning

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Andrea J. Miller

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