Science fiction writer and biochemistry professor Issac Asimov is quoted as saying, “Education isn’t something you can finish.” Albert Einstein took it one step further, “Once you stop learning, you start dying.” In other words, you’re never too old or too deep into your career or life to learn a new thing. There’s always space to grow, to improve, to evolve. There’s always room to gain new skills or to deepen your ability to do what you’ve always done.
Sure, if you’re currently slogging your way through a degree or certification program, Asimov and Einstein’s quotes may not sound quite like the encouragement they are meant to be. You’ve got your eye on the finish line and you’re juggling a lot to get to it. This conversation, however, isn’t about a singular learning opportunity. It’s about a posture of growth.
Your coursework is one aspect of that. Learning, however, is an ongoing process. Some of it is formal – complete with tests and papers and professors – and some of it is just about living life with an open mind looking for opportunities to expand our understanding of the spaces and people around us.
You’ve heard it said before, but it bears repeating – life is not a race. There isn’t a timeline that dictates when you need to grow in certain aspects of your being. There’s not a set pace to become a fully fleshed out expert in your field or master of a certain genre of knowledge. The clock is not ticking on your ability to launch that business you’ve always dreamed of or to finish the degree or to master playing the piano.
Today is a great day to take the first step toward something. And if you miss today, you’ve got tomorrow. That article you read about the latest overnight sensation is not your competition (and, it probably didn’t happen overnight). You’re not in competition with anyone to reach a milestone. Remember, forward progress is progress. Small steps or big leaps, it’s all moving forward. That’s your goal.
You’ve got your sights set on something big. Maybe you want to write a best seller. That’s awesome. Aim for the big thing. Getting there, however, takes a lot of small steps. The overall target timeline on your big dream may move. The small steps can be more concrete. “I want to write a best seller. I’m going to start by making an outline of the story I want to tell. I’m going to complete and refine my outline by the end of this month. Then I will write the first chapter. I will pitch the concept to an agent…”
This is a process and it takes time. Some bits will be in your control. Some are not. Finding the right agent that shares your vision could take longer than you think. Finding a publisher who believes in the story you’re telling could happen quickly, or, not so quickly. Focus on making progress on the bits you can control. Learn patience and fortitude on the pieces you can’t control. Keep the big picture in view and make progress moving forward.
Growth is ongoing, but that doesn’t mean dissatisfaction with where you are. You can grow skills, adapt, learn new things, and still enjoy the space you’re in today. Looking to move forward doesn’t require you to find fault with today. This current life you’ve built is something you worked for. Moving forward isn’t because where you are isn’t good enough. It doesn’t require a complete overhaul, either.
You may love your job and your position. That’s awesome. Growth isn’t about a new title at a new place. In your personal life, growth isn’t about a change in your relationship status or moving into a bigger, more posh living space. Growth may be learning to love what you have. It may be enhancing the things you’re already doing. It may be learning a new hobby or developing a practice of self-reflection and organization.
Learning and growth is ongoing but metamorphosis is not required as part of that process. Don’t assume your ongoing pursuit of improvement and education is because you’re never good enough or your circumstances haven’t hit their peak yet. Learn to be happy with you and what you’ve built.
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