Why you need to keep learning new things if you want to excel in life

Henry Ford said it best "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young." 

But it's not just a platitude, numerous study's show that the active mind stays "young". As you learn new things your brain is having to forge new neural pathways, that's why babies and kids are like learning machines - they have this huge capacity to learn, they have to. Every time they are shown something for the first time they have to absorb the lesson and they have to absorb it quickly - and if they don't - then you can understand why they have nicely padded rear ends - they don't care if they land on them once or twice whilst they are learning. The other amazing thing about kids and babies is this - they have no fear. To them life is one massive adventure....and boy are they going to have fun "adventuring". 

When did we stop "adventuring?"

If you are a parent, did you ever tell your kids - don't do that you'll hurt yourself .... really? are you sure? How many times did your fear translate into actual accidents?

I remember as a young kid catching bumble bees - I would capture one in my cupped hands and proudly go inside to show my mum ... rather than freak out she said - make sure you don't frighten him, cos if you do you'll get stung, which meant nothing to me - but sure enough - was that a painful lesson - extracting the sting from my finger, but there are some things you do have to experience for yourself.... learning is like that. We have to experience it for ourselves for the lessons to sink in. And no I didn't catch any more bees.

I have a personal trainer - I go a couple of times a week, and I do a lot of other stuff exercise wise besides. But every time I go to see my trainer I know I will be learning something new. It may be a new exercise, it may be a variation on an old one....once I've stopped laughing long enough to say "are you sure you want me to do THAT" the exercise is broken down so I can see what my body needs to do and eventually my mind catches up. I am shown - but I only learn by doing.

Are you still learning?

* Every time you read something new 
* Every time you attempt the morning cross word puzzle
* Every time you challenge your mind and body

Consider this

Every time I accept that the only thing I know for certain, is that I still have a lot to learn - I am opening my mind to new learning opportunities

Are you?

Stay young, keep learning