Why I Shouldn’t Love Learning So Much

In response to Coffee Challenge: Why I want to be a better me in 2022

Learn continually. There’s always ‘one more thing’ to learn- Steve Jobs

There is merit in this famous Steve Jobs quote for sure. It is a motivator for those that are reluctant learners. Or a wake-up call for those who think learning finishes once high school or uni is over.

But, for some others like me, it is like offering candy to a child with rotten teeth!

You see, I am addicted to learning new things. Have always been ever since I can remember. As a child, I would devour books of every kind. Growing up with two educators as parents, the supply of good books was endless.

However, I always had a sense of dissatisfaction, even as a child, with an insatiable desire to find and explore new things. I got bored very easily and didn’t stick to one thing for long. Literature and Languages as also the creative and performing arts fascinated me. I would spend hours exploring, creating and pursuing new creative outlets.

While all this was great as a child and even as a young adult, it didn’t pan out that well for me as a grown-up with a job and family responsibilities. As I got older, I began to see a pattern of behaviour that can best be described as a compulsive need to stimulate my brain with new things to learn and do. Sounds innocuous enough, doesn’t it?

Let me tell you why it actually isn’t as harmless as it seems.

Over the last two years, I have invested considerable time, energy and money learning (read trying to learn) how to do the following:

1. Write a Novel
2. Copywriting
3. Write Articles, Blog Posts, Short stories and Poems online
4. Learn watercolour painting
5. Do glass painting
6. Learn traditional Indian art forms like Madhubani and Worli.
7. Knit scarves and beanies
8. Grow my own Micro greens
9. Propagate exotic houseplants
10. Create MOCs with Lego
11. Learn iPhone and digital photography
12. Learn French on Duolingo

And a few other things related to the above like social media marketing, digital designing, SEO optimisation and other unfinished Udemy Courses that I have accumulated over the years! It’s not pretty.

If you are rolling your eyes and reading this as a brag list. Please hear me out, this is anything but.

This is more a cry for help!

This is exhausting, financially and emotionally draining, and at the end of the day, not actually that satisfying.

Here is why that list above does not feel like a list of achievements.

I have not given my brain the satisfaction of completing any of the above and have missed out on the dopamine fix that would make me feel accomplished, successful, and happy.

Sure, in the short term, I have done some of all the above. And no knowledge goes wasted. I know my brain fuses all these skills into amazing creative ideas sometimes.

But, when I take stock of the last two years, I feel more like a Jane of all trades than anything. I have not given my brain the satisfaction of any of the above and have missed out on a the dopamine fix that would make me feel accomplished, successful and happy.

The social climate we live in expects and rewards specialisation

The social climate we live in expects and rewards specialisation. Generalists are regarded as those who didn’t quite make the mark in any field; wasn’t the best selling author in a niche, or were an expert at Instagram marketing with 500K followers, etc, etc.

Of course, I always have the choice of believing in and accepting myself for who I am. This is how that pans out: On my good days, I consider myself a polymath! But on my bad days, I see myself as a scatterbrain who cannot stick to one thing.

Where to from here?

All is not lost. I have done my research while writing this story and have found my solution.

I am determined to be a better me in 2022

Here are the steps I will take to get there:

1. Accept myself as a ‘Multipotentialist’- check this Ted Talk by Emilie Wapnick, about what that means. It is fascinating. If I do not embrace and accept myself for who I am, I cannot expect others to do that, right?
2. Choose 3 of my topmost creative pursuits. If I was allowed only 3 creative things to learn and do what would I choose? They are; Writing, Painting and Photography. I will be investing my time, energy and money into these three things in 2022. The others will be like shiny little treats I will allow myself occasionally if I have stuck to my goals.
3. Create and follow a Creative Routine. Creating the routine is not the hard part. Teaching is my day job. I am great at structure and organisation in my professional life. I will transfer those skills and even some of the tracking tools like Trello into my creative life.

Following through with it is the challenge. I will keep you posted on that one. At this point, I am relying on visual reminders in the form of post-it notes in my study.

4. Celebrate each achievement: I will take the time out to celebrate the completion of each story, the painting of each picture and the capturing of each good shot on my camera. I must allow myself to pause and let my brain release that dopamine. Let me revel, feel successful, and happy before I launch into my next project.

I have come up with a system for this. At the risk of sounding silly, let me tell you I am going to award myself a digital badge that I have designed on Canva. I can change the badge up from time to time, giving myself that little creative outlet!

Win! Win!

5. Find my Tribe for support. I know I am not the only one who feels dragged in different directions. In fact, there are others who are more multifaceted than I am. I would like to find such creatives so we can learn from and support each other.

Surround yourself with people who will take you higher. Oprah Winfrey

If my story resonates with you and you want to connect with me, drop me a line in the comments.

Let’s do this together.

Let’s make 2022 a better year for all of us.

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I would like to take this opportunity to thank Winston and the Publication Coffee Times for this writing competition.

Would also like to thank my friend and fellow writer Monoreena Acharjee Majumdar for sharing the link to Coffee Times with me.

Wish everyone else a restful holiday with loved ones and a Very Happy New Year!