The Simple Trait Needed to Achieve

The phrase, “We can learn from anyone” is so true. In each and every moment of our lives, there are teachable moments just waiting to be processed and learned from. There is one simple trait that can greatly increase our ability to achieve. To learn more, we must shift our attention to one age group in particular.

The other night, I was at dinner with a friend and his 6 year old son in Los Angeles. My friend and his son just recently moved from Spain to the United States.

I’ll never forget my friend’s response to my question, “How is your son adjusting?” He replied, “Adjusting!? It’s like he’s lived here his whole life! He didn’t speak a word of English until we arrived, and now he is remarkably fluent. Just the other day, he asked me, Dad, why is your English so bad!?”

His son was able to learn the language through his curiosity. Children really do demonstrate curiosity at its best. My friend’s son learned by listening and repeating words shared by his teachers, friends, and parents. His open mind allowed him to learn at an incredibly fast rate.

Children are natural explorers at heart. They operate with the single purpose of fulfilling their curiosity. They are innately curious and completely open. Sometimes, as young people and adults, we tend to get stuck in our ways.

When we are open minded and curious, we are motivated to find out more… we are motivated to learn. According to researcher, John Munro, “Curiosity motivates learning. It arises when learners perceive their knowledge or understanding of a situation is incomplete; they are aware they have “unfilled holes” in their knowledge and a desire to “fill these holes.”

The great learners already know what they know, but they want to find out what the other person knows.

The great learners live as curious minds. They seek not only to know, but to understand. The curious minds therefore are the best teachers because they thoroughly understand their topics.

Let’s learn from these children and work to remain as open minded and curious as we possibly can. Isn’t life more fun that way?

• Are there steps within your own life that you can take to become more curious minded? If so, what are they?

Until next week. Thanks for reading.

JP

Keep Chipping Away at your Greatness