Why Learning To Unlearn Is Important And How You Can Learn To Unlearn?

Since my childhood, I, and I think almost all of you have been told and asked to learn different things. We all been told that we should only learn and remember what we learn. We start learning from the day we born by observing people around us from parents, extended family, peers or even characters on TV and as a result, before entering school, we are already shaped in many ways. When we are school students our teachers try to pass us the views and values they had grown up with. They try to pass us everything they believed were right for them.

While learning is essential for growth for humans as it makes us able to interact with others, we also end up learning many things that are not necessarily true. Or they maybe true at some point but world evolves fast and knowledge becomes old. And we still cling on to that, it can hinder our progress.

While our society puts an emphasis on learning, it is fundamental that we learn to unlearn as Bruce Lee said, “Empty your cup so that it may be filled; become devoid to gain totality.”

Why Learning To Unlearn Is Important?

To understand the importance of unlearning, read this zen story

“An Emperor asks a Zen Monk how he can improve in life. The Monk listens politely to the story and the question of the Emperor. Then he asks if the Emperor wants a cup of tea. The Monk pours the tea into the cup, even when it is already full. The Emperor watches the scene, and at the end, he can’t help intervening. He yells: ‘what are you doing, you see that the cup has been full for a while and you continue pouring tea…’. ‘Exactly’, says the Monk. ‘And it is the same with you. You are already full with your own ideas and conceptions. And you ask me to add more? First empty your cup and then it will be possible to pour some more.”

Unlearning is important in every aspect of your life be it professional or personal, social or political.

Professional

The concept of unlearning helps you to look at things in a fresh mind-set, leading you towards better understanding and ultimately better decisions. Though the experience & knowledge is key while solving a particular problem yet the knowledge or experiences you possess may not be perfect, or it could be limiting your ability to achieve more.

For an example when you are solving a problem, the well known method would be perfect. But if you start analysing from the basics and think new, “why do we follow these processes? Why do we do what we do?”, there might be better solutions. This unlearning or fresh thinking would lead towards innovation.

Personal

Unlearning can greatly help us in our day to day lives. People are normally conventional and all the decisions are based on some core beliefs and cultural insights that they have been taught. Based on those learning they first study, get jobs, marry, get kids, and after retirement wait for death. Their every decision is based on those learning.

They stop questioning alternatives and just go on living with what they know and what they believe is right. They never ask why should we do that? Because something that we know is true may not actually be true. As simple as that.

Social

People may declare themselves open to people of various race, gender, sexuality, class or ideology, but still have stereotypes which they can’t identify consciously , but which influence their thinking and actions.

Most of the social issues arise due to this restricted thinking, where people do not see the entire picture. Their arguments are based upon what they know, and how they see it. They do not take that extra effort to look at the problem from a fresh perspective.

Political

Say something good about a political party and see how people get angry who are not the supporters of the same. People will declare themselves liberals and then call you fascist when they find you not sharing their opinions.

Whatever the current situation is they always vote based on their core learning or principles, without any analysis. In order to truly succeed and learn it is important to be able to unlearn, look at the facts and take the correct decisions.

But Unlearning is not easy

Unlearning is not easy as people do not want to accept that they are wrong in their views. Therefore, they would keep on debating pointlessly as accepting their failure would drag them out of their comfort zone.

Unlearning is not that easy as to unlearn something you have to question your assumptions and beliefs regarding that which might have been with you from the childhood.

Unlearning is not easy as you are more focused on the losing of your old knowledge than what you might gain.

Unlearning is not easy as with your new perception of life, people around you might become your enemies if they are not synchronising the path of unlearning with you and so can feel threatened by your views.

But as Alvin Toffler, futurist and philosopher said:

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

It would be beneficial to unlearn and look at everything at an unbiased perspective. So ask the right questions and come out of the other side without losing yourself in the process.

How can you learn to Unlearn?

Think what would you do today if you weren’t afraid of anything

You have answer. Right?

Then ask yourself

What would I do if I were to live for 1 day only?

What is stopping me to do that now?

What is the worst that can happen?

Read If you want your life to truly take off, read this.

And then let go of the old knowledge

Much of your knowledge is deeply rooted within yourself, and it can easily be seen through your behavior. If you want to change this process, you need to be self-aware in order to identify the old knowledge and assimilate the new one. Let go of old ideas.

Watch video for 5 steps of unlearning

Clean the slate and be a child again

A child question everything. And answering a question every time give rise to a new question. This should be your adult life too. See everything with a new perspective, cultivate a blank page approach to life.

Remember you are divine life, and the goal is not to win but to open up. Live your life to the fullest. Read know your worth- You are a child of the King

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