Learning How to Learn

Salvador Dali, the visionary surrealist painter, would recline in his plush armchair, a bunch of keys clasped in his fingers, glinting faintly in the afternoon light. As he would drift into a gentle slumber, his mind would wander freely, untethered thoughts would swirl like a dreamscape. His consciousness would flicker, conjuring bizarre yet vibrant visuals. Right then the keys would fall, jolting him awake.Those fleeting yet fantastic images, born in the twilight of sleep, fueled his magnificent paintings. Unbeknownst to Dali, his peculiar ideation technique unlocked the interplay between the two states of his mind—the focused and the diffused modes.The focused mode follows a familiar path, using logic and past knowledge limiting creative thought by reinforcing existing neural pathways. In contrast, the diffused mode encourages creative breakthroughs by fostering new ideas, providing a broader perspective.A tea break, a relaxed walk and wandering thoughts activate the diffused mode, forging new neural connections. Have you ever had a random idea spark while lost in thought? That is the diffused mode spinning new neural pathways in your subconscious. The focused mode is a flashlight, guiding you in one direction, while the diffused mode is a lantern, softly illuminating your surroundings. A smooth switch between them unlocks peak performance.Mastering this seamless switch is the key to unlocking effortless learning ability. The brain forms neural networks by encoding new knowledge, akin to a forest trail in a chaotic jungle. Initially, neural connections are weak. Similar to exercise strengthening muscles, thinking and learning strengthen our neurons, bettering our memory. This is why repeated learning is recommended and that happens in the focused mode.After absorbing information in the focused mode, the brain needs time to reinforce and organise the knowledge. Until now, you have only taken in the information but how do you understand it? Understanding happens in the diffused mode when new information connects with existing information.Furthermore, to master the process of learning, we need more than just control over our modes of thinking. Firstly, know that having multiple viewpoints to learn something drastically improves comprehension, as it helps to perceive knowledge more cohesively. For example, we cannot become a historian by learning history from a single globalist viewpoint which can be highly prone to bias. The events must be studied from all the different cultural perspectives including indigenous ones to understand their full impact on a populace.Secondly, our brain controls the body and the body powers the brain. Hence, it is of paramount importance that the body is healthy. Brain efficiency primarily depends on two main things: sleep and physical exercise. Good sleep ensures that the new memories are properly organised and strengthened. During sleep, newly formed memories are transferred from the hippocampus (temporary storage) to the neocortex (long-term storage). Lack of sleep results in weak memory formation and many other brain-related problems that affect cognitive function, mental health issues and increased stress. The same sentiment is echoed by Krishna in the Gita wherein he advocates adequate food, exercise and rest in a single verse.Physical exercise is a direct factor in improving synaptic plasticity (neural connections), making learning and memory stronger. Exercising increases blood flow and thus increases oxygen levels. More oxygen leads to better focus, concentration, and reduced reaction time.Evidence suggests that students who exercise regularly perform far better in studies than students who don’t. Together, a good sleep schedule and regular exercise significantly improve the strength of our memories and overall mental health.Knowing all this in theory is one thing, but how do we ensure that we benefit from it? By cultivating a learner’s mindset. Learning isn’t an occasional process, it’s a lifelong attitude. It is a simple shift in perspective, from ‘I am bad at math,’ to ‘I can improve with practice’. Mistakes are not setbacks but rather stepping stones to grow. We must stay inquisitive—ask the right questions, explore new fields, and never let our curiosity be satiated. After all, youth isn’t defined by age but by one’s willingness to learn and grow.Employing the techniques and methods mentioned in this article will make learning effortless, leading us into a lifelong journey of knowledge and discovery, igniting the fire of seeking within, and helping us transform our infinite potential into actions which propel us higher towards the glorious peaks for evolution.

Learning How to Learn

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