Learning Line Upon Line
A group of turkeys attended a two-day training program to learn how to fly sponsored by the Eagle School of Flying. They learned the principles of aerodynamics, and then they practiced morning, afternoon, and evening. They became skilled at flying with the wind and against it, over mountains and plains, together and solo.
At the end of two days, they were pleased with everything they had learned and practiced. They announced it was the best training ever and they all walked home happy and content.
I think of this story after I read a remarkable book on self-improvement or attend a professional or spiritual conference. However thrilling and inspiring the learning experience may have been, I often walk home, abandoning the wisdom and knowledge I partook of and returning to my routine refreshed but unchanged.
Reflecting on the times I have made changes (or continued to fly), I’ve discovered some tips that may be helpful to you.
Before the learning experience, identify what you are seeking.
Why are you spending time reading this book or listening to this conference or class? Is there a question you want answered, or are you looking for new ideas to help solve a problem? Be honest about your intention. Sometimes, I just want to meet people who are interested in the same topic as I am, or I need to get my continuing education credits, and I love the location of the training. Recently, as I watched the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I wanted to learn how to increase my emotional resilience so I could help others.
Make a written list of your takeaways.
As you’re learning, make a numbered list of all those ideas, inspirational quotes or stories, or potential future actions that are linked to what you’re seeking. Include ah-ha’s or nuggets of wisdom that touch your heart. Don’t forget to add new ideas that you generate while you’re in the learning environment. Depending on the mixture of your state of mind and the content presented, your list may be five items or thirty-five.
I try to be creative as I’m making my list. I have a special notebook just for this purpose and colored pens for doodling and having fun with my note taking. This is especially important when my attention and energy begin to wane.
Categorize the list.
When the experience is wrapped up, and you’re refreshed, pull out your list and divide it into several categories. You can rewrite it or use symbols on the original list. Here are my categories, but you may have more: 1) answers to my questions, 2) ideas I want to remember, 3) topics I want to learn more about, 4) actions I will consider taking.
Answers to my questions are the five-star items on the list. Celebrate the discovery of what you were seeking and take any related action.
Ideas I want to remember must find a place where they can be found. Maybe they’re put in a topic file on your computer or in a filing cabinet. Or just keeping them in your notebook list will make them retrievable.
Topics I want to learn more about launch you into additional study and research. I’m a visual learner, so I look for ways to read presentations that were of particular interest to me or re-watch videos. Here is where I dig into footnotes and references, and other resources on the topic. The spiral-bound journal edition of General Conference Addresses is my favorite study book for six months until the next General Conference.
Actions to be considered are changes you want to make someday. Identifying them does not require a commitment today, other than taking the time to decide whether this is something you want to do right now, maybe within the next 6 months, possibly this year, or further out in the future.
Be realistic about your readiness.
I appreciate when teachers encourage a specific action within their talks. I do it when I’m teaching. But whether I take action depends on my readiness, and it’s okay to not be ready. There’s good science about change readiness, and in simple terms there are three stages to readiness: Stage 1) It’s a good idea, but I’m not even close to being ready to make this change, Stage 2) It’s a good idea, and I’m a little closer to thinking about doing it, but not now, and Stage 3) It’s time to make this change in my life. I’ve been thinking and preparing, and I’m ready to jump in.
Accept the fact that you have items in every stage, but if you put your energy into the one or two changes in Stage 3, where you’re most ready, success is more likely.
BTW, this is a great way to manage “shoulds.” Your “shoulds” are probably in Stage 1 or 2 and it’s healthier to simply say, “I’m not ready, yet, to make those changes.”
Learn line by line.
Recognizing that learning is a layered process can help us be patient learners. We don’t have to learn it all at once. The joy is in the journey as we see ourselves gradually grow in wisdom. In the Book of Mormon, there is a wonderful scripture about this process:
For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have. (2 Nephi 28:30)
Advice to the Turkey
“It’s so good that you had a wonderful time learning how to fly last weekend. The experience alone enriches your life. Now you must decide if flying is something you’re ready to practice, so you become an expert flying turkey. If not, that’s okay. Maybe you decided flying isn’t for you or this isn’t the right time. There may have been an unexpected discovery, like eagles aren’t the bird snobs you thought they were. Whatever the outcome, bravo for continuing to seek wisdom. Keep up the good work!”