Sometimes you need to forget to move forward
Learning is cumulative. You start with a little, then add more, piece by piece, until you have enough knowledge to make sense of something. Acquiring knowledge can be immensely rewarding. The more you learn, the more you realise you have yet to learn, and so the chase continues.
But what happens when you know too much? It’s important to put your knowledge under the microscope every now and then to flush out old or stale ideas. After all, life moves fast. Those facts you acquired a few years ago? Likely outdated now. That article you once read that shaped your opinion about something or someone? Maybe new information has come to light that could change your mind.
Psychologists call this the learning, unlearning and relearning cycle. It’s all about revisiting and analysing prior knowledge as new information becomes available. A bit like updating your phone or computer when new software is released.
So, how can you begin this process? It can feel a bit daunting. Here are some tips to get you started.
Find yourself a quiet space and a pen and paper. Think about what you’re ready to let go of — jot down whatever comes to mind. Set a timer and see how many topics bubble up in 15 minutes. You don’t need to act on this immediately. Often, awareness is enough to help you subconsciously seek out new information and viewpoints.
If you’re new to the learning, unlearning and relearning cycle, it can be overwhelming. Remember, you don’t need to relearn everything at once. Start small by picking one focus area and take your time. This is something you’ll do for life, not just once!
As you unlearn and relearn, you may feel a bit judgemental towards your past self, wondering ‘why didn’t I know better?’ It’s normal to feel this way, but be kind to yourself — it’s okay to change your mind and evolve your thinking. It’s not a sign that you were ‘wrong’ before — you’re just learning, unlearning, and relearning. Trust the process.