Overcoming the Emotional Barriers to Learning Hard Things
Learning new, challenging skills can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s also common to face significant emotional hurdles along the way. In this blog post, I’ll share insights on the emotional challenges of learning hard things and provide strategies to help you push through those barriers.
The Real Hurdle: Emotions
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from my research on ultralearning is that how we feel about learning is the overwhelming cause of the results we experience. While intelligence, talent, and good teachers are helpful, the real obstacle to learning is often the emotional resistance we face—whether it’s frustration, fear, or lack of interest.
Confronting the Frustration Barrier
When trying to learn something new and difficult, it’s normal to feel frustrated. This frustration barrier occurs when the gap between your current abilities and the desired skill level feels insurmountable. I vividly remember experiencing this when I tried to learn salsa dancing. I felt clumsy, self-conscious, and tempted to give up.
Strategies for Overcoming Emotional Barriers
Dive straight into learning: Immersing yourself in the learning process can help shorten the frustration period. Don’t wait until you feel ready—start practicing and learning as soon as possible.
Avoid unhealthy comparisons: It’s easy to get discouraged when comparing yourself to others who seem to be progressing faster. Remember that everyone has their own unique learning journey. Focus on your own progress and celebrate small wins.
Embrace frustration as normal: Reframe your emotional response to learning. Frustration, confusion, and self-doubt are all normal parts of the process. Expect them to arise and be prepared to push through.
The Payoff: Growth and Fulfillment
By shifting your mindset and persevering through challenging experiences, you can overcome emotional barriers and reap the rewards of learning hard things. Pushing past frustration leads to growth, greater enjoyment, and a broader sense of life’s possibilities.
Learning difficult skills is not easy, but it’s worth the effort. Embrace the emotional challenges as opportunities for personal development. With the right strategies and a resilient mindset, you can achieve your learning goals and unlock your full potential.