Monday, September 15, 2008

The journey ahead as a Lifelong Learner

After discovering the 7 1/2 habits of Lifelong Learners discussed in the video at http://www.plcmc.org/public/learning/player.html , it is easy to see which habits already apply to me, and which ones I need to work on.
The easiest habit for me is habit #1: Begin with the end in mind. I am a logical, organized person, so considering the outcome of a decision before I make it comes naturally to me. It gives me a sense of control and determination to foresee the results of my endeavors, and strive for them. It gives me satisfaction to develop, usually in writing, a goal with specific steps I will need to take to attain it. I enjoy making a day-by-day plan to ensure I stay on track - the only problem is sticking to it.
Of all the habits, the most difficult for me to accept is #4: Have confidence in oneself as a competent, effective learner. Lifelong learners are expected to stay positive and believe through thick and thin that they will succeed their goals. Whenever I fall off the wagon, I tend to fall apart and doubt my abilities. I'm not brimming with self confidence to begin with, so even a minor setback can feel like a major failure to me. People are always telling me that with the right attitude, a person can accomplish everything. I suppose admitting my fault is the first step: now I need to remember that whenever things go wrong, I must get back on the horse and keep on trying.

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