We learn better together
Being in a community that helps us feel safe to experience discomfort while also offering feedback to help us discover part of ourselves we cannot see is one of the best ways to learn and grow.
Learning often happens in moments of discomfort. It occurs in moments when we try to recall a faraway thought from memory to make a new connection. It’s also when we look inside at a part of ourselves, which we may have denied for too long. Or it can also be when we take action in ways that stretch us beyond what we think possible, like sharing a piece of our writing publicly, doing a podcast, or public speaking.
In the context of a recently launched workshop where I work, a great conversation highlighted how we see ourselves is often quite different from how others see us.
When we see people as remarkable, does that guarantee that they see themselves the same?
Our outside-in perspective and experience of others are likely to be different from their inside-out perspective and experiences of themselves.
One participant pointed out that it might be one of the main reasons feedback is so powerful.
Social learning is so powerful and one of the most effective ways of learning. Being in a community that helps us feel safe to experience discomfort while also offering feedback to help us discover part of ourselves we cannot see is one of the best ways to challenge ourselves, learn and grow.
It’s likely why so much learning happens in online cohorts these days. With the Internet’s far reach, we can participate in communities across the globe, share different experiences, backgrounds, and cultures, and challenge each other to become better.
What key insights have you had while stretching yourself inside a supportive community?
While we’re not all social to the same degree and our social needs vary, being social is key to our learning, growth and survival.
When we’re learning, we’re growing. And when we’re not feeling challenged doing so, we might not be doing it right.
Miguel,
Sparknotion – Think Differently.
