Why you might need to Unlearn what you know to Learn Something New

As Aristotle said, We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit (Aristotle & Ellis). This quote contains the essence of why you might need to unlearn what you know in order to learn something new.

When you learn something new, your mind shifts from one set of ways of thinking to another—which can be disconcerting at first. As your brain tries to make sense of everything, it initially struggles to process the new information, which may make the new skill challenging to learn at first. Don’t worry—you’re not alone if this happens, and it doesn’t mean that you aren’t smart enough to master the new skill or concept.

Unlearning in order to learn can be an essential part of your learning process...

The world is constantly changing

There is no reason you should not be constantly updating your knowledge. There is always something new and novel for you to learn. The world is constantly changing and evolving, so there are always new skills that need relearning. When you have an open mind and a desire to grow, then it will be easier for you to unlearn what you know in order to learn something new.

Things that were once considered true may no longer be accurate

The world is changing, and what was once considered true may no longer be accurate. For example, the Earth is not flat, but round; it’s not stationary in space but moves at over 67 thousand miles per hour as it orbits the Sun; and we’re not at the centre of our solar system. These are just three examples of how things we once thought were true have been proven false with new discoveries.

To keep up with the times, you need to be open to new ideas

We live in a world where change is the norm. It’s not always easy, but you have to be open to new ideas and try new things. In order to keep up with the times, you need to unlearn what you know and learn something new.

Don't be afraid to challenge your existing beliefs

Your beliefs can either help or hinder you, so think about where a particular belief has come from. Is it even yours or have you acquired it from someone else? Do you even know where it came from? That belief could be what is holding you back, if that’s the case recognise it and try and unlearn what you’ve been telling yourself for years and replace it with a newly updated belief that is more in line with you and your future.

Be willing to put in the work to learn something new

Like anything when you learn something new it takes a bit of time to understand and become comfortable and the only way to do this is to put in the effort as nothing comes without effort and understanding. As time goes by you’ll find that new concepts and ideas will become familiar and before you know it they will be second nature. Stick with it and you’ll open up to a new world that you may not have even dreamt of.

In order to truly learn something, sometimes you need to first unlearn what you think you know, therefore embrace learning new things regardless of how much experience or knowledge you currently have in the subject area, there is always room for more.