Leveraging the Learning Space
Child psychologist, Dr Becky Kennedy, author of a resilient parenting book called Good Inside, gave a presentation to students at Duke on tolerating discomfort to build resilience. Her message focused on the value of tolerating the frustrating period when we are trying to figure out, learn or decipher something new or different in our world—be it academic or physical or environmental or relational. When we value the time to learn the way we need to, we see the pathway to future growth and strengthen our resilience to do it again.
The Learning Space lies between the unknowing and knowing. Here is a strategy to help you tolerate when you are in the Learning Space:
Name it when you are in the Learning Space
Validate the feelings you are experiencing—frustration, impatience, anxiety, stress, curiosity, interest, wonder, passion
Don’t hide the struggle. Where has tolerating the learning space been modeled for you? Who might share their experience with you?
Are you able to savor some part of the learning?
Here is The Learning Space visualized…
Source: Good Inside, Dr. Becky Kennedy
I appreciated this presentation because she pointed out how formal education enforces and rewards quick learning. The inherent message is, “Make sure you get in the knowing space quickly.” And in this world of instantaneous gratification—gameshows, reality competitions, timed sports races, SATs, and classroom learning (you get to play if you finish homework early)—our culture reinforces fast solutions and discourages slow processing. For those of us who learn slowly, we can use this idea to undo the negative messaging which can be associated with taking time to learn our way.
At Our Healing Therapy, we will help you slow down and savor the Learning Space. Contact us today.
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