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You can’t sufficiently upgrade your life by just constantly learning new stuff.
Leverage the art of unlearning to excel in life.
Don’t know where to start.
I’m here to help.
-|A thread|-
Leverage the art of unlearning to excel in life.
Don’t know where to start.
I’m here to help.
-|A thread|-
What is unlearning?
Unlearning is not about forgetting.
That is almost impossible.
It’s about letting go of old beliefs and truths that don’t serve you anymore.
In essence, it is about selective intelligence.
Unlearning is not about forgetting.
That is almost impossible.
It’s about letting go of old beliefs and truths that don’t serve you anymore.
In essence, it is about selective intelligence.
What does the learning process consist of?
Selection and transformation of information
Decision-making
Generating hypotheses
Making meaning from information and experiences
Selection and transformation of informationDecision-makingGenerating hypothesesMaking meaning from information and experiences
The common barriers to unlearning:
1. Previous knowledge and beliefs
2. Habits and routines
3. The brain being “lazy”
4. Lack of reason to change thought patterns.
1. Previous knowledge and beliefs
2. Habits and routines
3. The brain being “lazy”
4. Lack of reason to change thought patterns.
Steps to follow to unlearn
-CHANGE-
Cognition
Habits
Assessment
New information
Game plan
Elimination
-CHANGE-
Cognition
Habits
Assessment
New information
Game plan
Elimination
Cognition – Know what you know.
This takes a level of self-awareness and humility.
Most of the time you know less than you think.
Which things you believe are true and are not paradoxical in contrast to other beliefs?
The things that aren't, should be revised.
This takes a level of self-awareness and humility.
Most of the time you know less than you think.
Which things you believe are true and are not paradoxical in contrast to other beliefs?
The things that aren't, should be revised.
Example?
I have patients that come in and think they have a serious disease. This is backed up by their anxiety and their search on the Internet.
Is what you believe based on solid arguments? If not.
Then fill these gaps of knowledge by consulting a professional.
I have patients that come in and think they have a serious disease. This is backed up by their anxiety and their search on the Internet.
Is what you believe based on solid arguments? If not.
Then fill these gaps of knowledge by consulting a professional.
Habits – Know your subconscious actions.
Our brain likes to be lazy and that is why we create habits.
Habits will help you to get more stuff done with less wasted mental energy.
Habits are the baseline level of activity we perform subconsciously.
Our brain likes to be lazy and that is why we create habits.
Habits will help you to get more stuff done with less wasted mental energy.
Habits are the baseline level of activity we perform subconsciously.
Example:
If you don’t have the fundamental belief that exercise is healthy, then creating healthy eating and exercise habits will be difficult.
Habits are built on your beliefs.
First, work on your beliefs and then build new habits on top of that.
If you don’t have the fundamental belief that exercise is healthy, then creating healthy eating and exercise habits will be difficult.
Habits are built on your beliefs.
First, work on your beliefs and then build new habits on top of that.
Assessment – Write down the barriers to change.
Every change will make you encounter barriers and difficulties
The assessment of these barriers beforehand, will make change easier and prevent setbacks.
Every change will make you encounter barriers and difficulties
The assessment of these barriers beforehand, will make change easier and prevent setbacks.
Example:
Meditation is hard. It requires mental energy to initiate this behavior as it lacks instant benefits.
How to turn this into a new habit?
Analyze the barriers that make you not stick to this new routine.
Analyze what would help you to stick to this routine.
Meditation is hard. It requires mental energy to initiate this behavior as it lacks instant benefits.
How to turn this into a new habit?
Analyze the barriers that make you not stick to this new routine.
Analyze what would help you to stick to this routine.
New information – Provide your brain new stimuli.
Habits and beliefs are your learning fundamentals.
You now need to provide your brain with a reason why to change your belief and habits.
Humans need meaning. Provide meaning to your brain by finding more information.
Habits and beliefs are your learning fundamentals.
You now need to provide your brain with a reason why to change your belief and habits.
Humans need meaning. Provide meaning to your brain by finding more information.
Example:
You want to cook more healthily. But you know nothing about healthy food.
So you decide to consult a dietician.
You will search for some healthy recipes on the internet and learn how to cook.
You have now enough information to adopt a new habit.
You want to cook more healthily. But you know nothing about healthy food.
So you decide to consult a dietician.
You will search for some healthy recipes on the internet and learn how to cook.
You have now enough information to adopt a new habit.
Game plan – The application of this knowledge.
The old belief is slowly being replaced.
The definitive way to replace it is by repetitively using the new belief.
Persistence is always key to success.
The old belief is slowly being replaced.
The definitive way to replace it is by repetitively using the new belief.
Persistence is always key to success.
Example?
After gathering information about healthy eating, you make up a plan.
You meal prep for the entire week.
You buy vegetables from the farmer market.
You get your family involved in the cooking process.
Cooking healthy has become second nature.
After gathering information about healthy eating, you make up a plan.
You meal prep for the entire week.
You buy vegetables from the farmer market.
You get your family involved in the cooking process.
Cooking healthy has become second nature.
Eliminate – Destroy the old belief.
The old belief does not serve you anymore
Be aware when you go back to your old thought patterns.
Systematically correct yourself and reason with yourself why you want to use your old beliefs.
Don’t let emotions dictate your beliefs.
The old belief does not serve you anymore
Be aware when you go back to your old thought patterns.
Systematically correct yourself and reason with yourself why you want to use your old beliefs.
Don’t let emotions dictate your beliefs.
Unlearning is difficult. It is a process of change and adaptation.
Challenge your old beliefs, gather information about the new beliefs, and change them accordingly.
-Dare to change the known to understand more about the unknown.-
Challenge your old beliefs, gather information about the new beliefs, and change them accordingly.
-Dare to change the known to understand more about the unknown.-
If you like this thread about unlearning, please be so kind to retweet the first tweet. https://twitter.com/SarahThooft/status/1359895345069772801
