Little kids love to learn. Joy and delight are found in every accomplishment from learning how to go up stairs to mastering buttons. It's all about the fun of the moment and the happiness of new moments. We could take a page from their book when it comes to adjusting our lives as our circumstances change. In order to do this we may have to change our thinking.
NPR recently had a great article on the differences in how Japanese and American students are taught. Turns out the big difference is that Americans are taught they are either smart, in which case they should get everything easily, or not smart, in which case they won't. Japanese students are taught that anyone can persist. And persist they do with excellent results. They may fail over and over, yet they continue to try. No ego involvement here, just the grit to keep at it until, 'Eureka!' the skill is learned.
It can be tough in our culture to lose the ego and embarrassment that can be attached to 'not knowing.' This is true whether the 'not knowing' involves new technology, new social dynamics, or new ways of navigating to compensate for pain. But there is a path forward. Take one part joy, one part persistence, one part toss out the ego, and there you have the perfect recipe for getting from 'not knowing' to 'Eureka!'
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