You need to have the right attitude and follow the right practices to be a Lifelong Learner. Learning can be exciting. Make Lifelong Learning your passion.

Titus K Suter’s article “Embrace lifelong learning as your ultimate duty” on LinkedIn is full of quotes about learning.

“We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.” – Peter Drucker.

“Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.” – Samuel Johnson

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” –  Anthony J. D’Angelo.

“The education of a man is never complete until he dies.” – Robert E. Lee

“All the world is my school and all humanity is my teacher.” – George Whitman

“Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.” – Isaac Asimov. Lifelong Learning is all about learning that you drive yourself.

Julianna Summers talks about developing robust, constructive Habits of Mind. She says that cultivation of Habits of Mind necessitates three crucial steps: enhancing self-awareness and embracing reflection, practicing consistency, and practicing patience and persistence.

She cites a case study of Pixar Animation Studios’ success that “can be attributed to their commitment to continuous learning facilitated by their adherence to the Habits of Mind – curiosity, openness, and persistence”.

Self-awareness: Recognize your own personal interests and goals. Are you curious by nature? Do you ask questions for better understanding? Being aware of how you learn best is important. It could be through viewing/observing, listening, reading, doing etc. With some trials, you should be able to identify the ways in which you learn well.

Reflection: Reflect on what you want your future to be like. You should reflect on what you have learned, why you learned it and how did you learn it. What went well. This will help you learn from your mistakes as well as from your successes. Did you feel motivated to learn it? You will get a better handle on your interests and passion.

Consistency: Make a list of what you would like to learn.  Devote time regularly to learn the items in the list and revise it periodically. Remove items on which you did not spend any time, and add any new interest that you recognize.

On how learning impacts our lives:

“Learning new skills is one way we can rewrite the story of our lives. Whether it is to pursue a different career, for our own intellectual curiosity, or to strengthen our ability to focus, monotasking learning can be very rewarding.” – Thatcher Wine

“Change is the end result of all true learning.” – Leo Buscaliga

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi.

“Formal education will make you a living. Self-education will make you a fortune.” – Jim Rohn.

“Those people who develop the ability to continuously acquire new and better forms of knowledge that they can apply to their work and to their lives will be the movers and shakers in our society for the indefinite future.” – Brian Tracy

Photo –Victory celebration by Jasmine Chew on Unsplash