Why aren’t you learning “that thing”? 🤨

I’ve been mulling around this question in my head for the past few months — what makes people (including me!) resistant to learning something new, or trying something they’ve never tried? When this “something” could be life-changing for them?

There are a few reasons I came up with…

1) Initial judgment about said “thing” and resistance to changing it.
2) Afraid of trying and failing.
3) Don’t feel like we have the resources to get started.
4) Afraid of growing apart from current relationships with the time/energy required to get immersed in said “thing”
5) Afraid of others (especially people close to us) judging our choices.

All of these are very real feelings, and valid. But are you going to let them hold you back from pursuing a new path? Your curiosity and urge to learn something new are here for a reason. It could be the beacon of light into your next chapter.

My thoughts on the above worries:

• We have an initial judgment about said “thing” and are resistant to changing it.

What is the purpose of life if you can’t shift your perspective and mindset over time? It’s a valuable skillset to be able to analyze your own judgments (and even those of others) in a constructive way and change how you approach something if your old way of thinking doesn’t serve you anymore. This is the hardest when your friends and family have the same mindset — growth can be painful sometimes.

• We’re afraid of trying and failing.

Yes, you’ll prob try and fail. But that’s where the biggest lessons are learned. Every single person in the world has tried something and failed. Every. Single. One.

• We don’t feel like we have the resources to get started.

There are resources everywhere, from people you know, to indirect mentors, to YouTube, to podcasts, to online communities… It might take a little digging and it might be hard af, but the resources are there.

• We’re afraid of growing apart from current relationships with the time/energy required to get immersed in said “thing.”

As you shift focus and direction in life to learn new things, it’s inevitable that relationships will change. Not all, but some. There will always be relationships that stand the test of time and grow with you.

Sometimes subtraction is needed for growth, not addition.

When I left Florida and came to Cali so I was positioned to pursue entertainment with the least friction, a lot of relationships kind of faded away because our common ground was gone. However, new people came into my life that I feel in alignment with and enjoy growing with on a daily basis.

• We’re afraid of others (especially people close to us) judging our choices.

I know we always think that others are paying close attention to what we’re doing, but tbh, people are way too absorbed in their own challenges, daily life, successes, failures, thoughts, worries etc to have thoughts about you trying something new.

And if they do judge you? So what. Let them. Not your prob.

I’ve been witnessing a lot of people moving into the Web3 space over the past year. It’s a truly permissionless space where you can create (almost) anything you can imagine, and find like-minded people who just think… differently. One of my previous guests, David Bianchi, is doing stellar things in Film3 right now.

And before you roll your eyes, what intrigues me most about the space is getting to witness the interesting projects and businesses with utility that are being created… and fast.

• I’ve seen artists and musicians struggling to get mainstream attention and survive off their work because of gatekeepers keeping the doors closed, who found crazy good success (monetarily and visibility wise) creating art directly for their communities in the Web3 space.
• Someone I was talking to practically every day quit his F/T gig at Meta because he found success as a trader and built his own project. I know many who are following suit.
• Film studios are launching DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations) so those invested in the community have a say in what they work on and create. BlockbusterDAO almost launched (but failed) and I suspect we’ll see more doing this that actually see success.
• I know a creator/producer who pivoted and has started advising on the storytelling aspects of an interactive Web3 game / NFT project. (Fun fact, I auditioned for his show which was the ‘first of its kind’ partially scripted interactive Twitch show that went on to win an Emmy. I’ve been watching him closely ever since because I truly admire what he’s doing with his career).
• I’ve banded together with some incredible people to create something new in this space, as well. It’s had a steep learning curve but it’s fun. And it’s all because I said yes to learning about the space early last year and surrounded myself with people who were really interested in it, too.

My point with sharing some of this is none of the people above would have gotten to their “next chapter” without being willing to learn something new and potentially close the door on the old one. Or fail. Or get out of their own way. Or risk the judgment of others. Or ignore negative sentiment and let that sway their interest.

I’m not saying this as someone who thinks they have it all figured out because I certainly don’t. 😆

But what I do think is life is honestly too short for that shit and curiosity is here for a reason. If you want to learn something? Go learn it. If you want to try something? Go try it. You’ll learn what you need along the way.

Originally published at permissionLESS.