We underestimate the extent to which we can learn.

But we also overestimate the degree to which others can change.

 

Intelligence makes you think faster, comprehend faster, learn faster.

But if knowledge is fixed — then it makes no difference how fast you have learned it. Once you learned it — it’s learned.

You can be 10 times smarter and you’re still not a greater expert than any random fool who took his time committing to memory all the theory there is around the subject.

 

The knowledge doesn’t even have to be explicit.

Look at chess grandmasters.

They are no great minds, believe me. Great minds don’t spend their lives playing a fucking board game. Grandmasters are morons like you and I. But they learned to play chess at level so mind-boggling high that it quite seems impossible.

It’s hard but it’s not impossible.

We just underestimate how much we can learn if learned the right way.

 

Learning effectively is key.

We are very poor at learning.

Learning itself can be mastered at god-like level. Look at mnemonists.

You should learn all there is about memory and learning.

 

Learning effectively is key and this is why grandmasters create more Karsparovs and pianists create more Liszts and so on…

Once it has been achieved once, learned once — we collectively learn how to learn it, learn how to teach it. And then we teach and others learn it. The impossible had became possible.

Except it could largely be mastered IN GENERAL.

You could LEARN HOW TO LEARN — and learn MANY THINGS at an astonishingly high level, within this lifetime.

 

We of course likewise underestimate what others can learn, can be taught.

This includes overestimating our own precious knowledge, our own precious insights.

If someone learned it before you — then others will learn it after you.

And if you need someone to know something — don’t underestimate his ability to learn it.

They may be slower at it — but once they learned it — they may surprise you.

 

So we underestimate ability to learn.

What we overestimate is ABILITY to change

What’s the difference?

We could say that “changing is learning to be different”, or that “learning is changing what we know”. Which is why we need to define it more precisely, so that the meaning doesn’t elude us with semantic ambiguity.

Let’s define LEARNING as acquiring concrete skills, concrete knowledge, concrete abilities.

Let’s define CHANGING as changing one’s entire personality, perception of the world, goals and intentions, methods of realising those intentions, and finally actions.

 

As you can see CHANGING goes deeper than learning any knowledge or skill in isolation.

The latter is more easy than you think. ESPECIALLY with the right teacher, and ESPECIALLY with the right environment.

Changing however — is extremely difficult.

The problem is that we don’t really ever want to change.

We may think we want to change — but we don’t.

Psyche seeks homeostasis. If you’re surviving — it will reinforce all that you are. Whether you like it or not. Whether you’re consciously “happy” about it or not.

 

We overestimate ability to change because we don’t understand this deep truth.

We mistake what looks like change for what a true change is.

For instance we mistake this very LEARNING OF NEW SKILLS with TRUE DEEP CHANGE.

It’s because indeed we believe learning something at a high level is so difficult, that surely someone who did it is a “different person”.

They are not. Learning is easy. You just have to learn it the right way. Commit to a proper routine, get a great teacher. Or learn to learn ourselves.

I would call “learning to learn” a deep level change. But learning any single thing in particular is no change. Anyone can do it.

 

True change is deep.

When it’s not mistaken for flashy new skill or outward appearance of conventional success — such change is hard.

Outward success is poor indicator of true inner success, of true ability to change oneself for the better.

It’s because what is apparent on the outside, what is presented on the outside, and what is regarded as “success” on the outside — has little to do with what success truly is. With what we truly want.

True change is deep. Truly doing what you want is hard. PRETENDING you’re someone you’re not is easy. PRETENDING you’re a “success” is easy. PRETENDING you intended your life to look this way is easy.

 

Never overestimate one’s ability to change.

Almost no one can change.

You should never expect others to change.

It’s great if they do.

But you should never expect them to change.

And obviously you should never be resentful towards them for their failure to change. EVEN if they said they would change. You should have known better. They really did wish they could change. They just can’t.

 

Take others already READY.

Take others already having all the necessary character traits, predispositions, talents and views.

You should be doing more screening. We are not networking enough. We live in the supremely connected world and we use this power to entertain ourselves and waste our time. You should use those possibilities to screen for the most FITTING match.

 

You can POTENTIALLY take someone yet lacking skills you’re looking for. Don’t underestimate what others can learn.

But you should screen hard for the best fit. ESPECIALLY in regard to IMMUTABLE characteristics.

Because people don’t change.

They can learn more than you think.

But they won’t change.

 

Teach others more and learn more yourself. You can learn more than you think. They can learn more than you think. You all should learn more.

But otherwise expect no more than what they already proven to be worth.