The Why of Learning

Ged from the Earthsea Quartet, is one of my favourite fictional characters. In that world, you gain magical powers over objects and lifeforms by knowing their true names. His training is an extended period of study in a tower away from the noise. Then embodying that knowledge, so he doesn’t just know the names superficially. He sees them, recognises them, remembers them, and can use them as automatically as breathing properly. 

In David Copperfield, Charles Dicken’s character also finds a key to financial security through wrestling hard with something deeply complex and confusing until it comes naturally. In this case – Shorthand. This is a symbolic writing method that lets you take verbatim notes but write quickly enough to keep up (before there were keyboards and recordings). 

I have been plugging away at languages and the Rubik’s cube, as a tool for memory work. You can learn how to solve a Rubik’s cube in a few minutes (to solve) in an hour (to learn). To get faster, you need to put time and practice in. 

For a Rubik’s cube... why? You are not going to make money out of it. You would need to have another reason. With Languages, there is a payback as an entry ticket to other cultures and world views. To be able to connect to people in the way they are most relaxed. 

Yet... normally it would require a real push for motivation to get through the obstacles. Perhaps moving to a place where that language dominates. Perhaps a loved one. 

The why of learning is the key to deep soaking. I know why I spent time learning the Rubik’s cube. It is hard to explain or justify to others. You don't need to explain your why to yourself, but it needs to soak deep enough to overcome attempts to shift your attention away.