I want to STOP learning. Yes, you read that right..
“The possession of Knowledge, unless accompanied by a manifestation and expression in Action, is like the hoarding of precious metals — a vain and foolish thing. Knowledge, like Wealth, is intended for Use. The Law of Use is Universal, and he who violates it suffers by reason of his conflict with natural forces.” — The Kybalion.
This quote, along with other writings in The Kybalion have painfully stuck with me for years.
The Kybalion is a book about the ancient Hermetic teachings that came out of Ancient Egypt.
It’s quite hard to understand, but once you “get it,” it’ll hit you deep. However, this last part is extremely clear, and applies to all facets of life.
Avoiding Learning… At Painful Costs
Today I had to drive from Phoenix to Tucson (and back), which was easily more than 4 hours.
I also went to another town 45 minutes from my town in the Phoenix area for a business event, and now I’m writing this at (yet another town) Arizona State University so I can rest & relax before driving some more.
I’ve spent A LOT of time driving. And what better use of that time than to listen to podcasts & content on how to better myself?
Wrong.
I could emotionally feel it. I wanted to, by instinct, turn on podcasts, self-help material, and learn, but I just couldn’t do it.
As fucking boring & awful as it was, I listened to one painful song after another, or even no music, as I drove hour after hour.
I did listen a bit to a business program that I had purchased, but I was re-listening to content I had learned before. Now I was re-listening so I could solidify it.
Needless to say, it was a boring trip, and most people would be perplexed as to why I didn’t turn on some self-help or business podcast to put that use to “good time!”
But WHY Avoid Learning?
I didn’t take that quote from the Kybalion seriously when I first read it. I was in a period of my life where I was growing fast, and that meant absorbing all kinds of information.
My first long road-trip from Nebraska to Arizona was filled with valuable self-help content, and one of the videos I listened to was so inspiring I permanently downloaded & backed it up so I can always have it.
Learning is necessary, up to a point. I won’t argue with that; the point of this post isn’t to say “never” learn, but instead to “stop learning once you’ve learned enough.”
There comes a time when you need to stop talking & take action. Otherwise, you get jammed on endless information-gathering, which eventually paralyzes you.
Right now I’ve taken more action, but I still have a ways to go to catch up with my knowledge level.
I “know” many things in the brain, but I don’t “know” them in the body because I haven’t applied them in reality.
I’ve been tortured for years about business and self-help information that I have not yet applied.
Once you’ve learned something, it’s impossible to sleep well until you apply it. I can’t think of anyone I know that learns how to succeed in business or with dating or this or that and can go to sleep calmly without putting it to action!
This is a dangerous habit to break: YouTube is one click away, begging to share more information.
Friends and entrepreneurial circles are constantly trying to share books, blogs, podcasts, authors, events, speakers, programs, etc…
Now, in reflection, I realize that I know quite a bit. When I apply things, my theories are either proven correct or adjusted to fit reality, but each day I apply things I can sleep a bit easier.
Stop Learning, Start Acting
I really like this blog’s description of the Kybalion quote, as well as his examples of Analysis Paralysis and the deeply negative effects it has.
The author writes about something called “Rapid Practical Integration,” which is a fancy way of saying that you should only research the next critical thing you need to accomplish.
For example, don’t research how to hire employees, unless you actually need to hire employees (I’m writing this to myself).
This applies for whatever you’re going for. Don’t research “how to meet women” unless you’ve actually tried to meet women and are experiencing a specific problem.
First, experiencing a SPECIFIC problem is MUCH easier to solve than a generic problem. Second, if you apply everything you learn in a program, you’ll have a foundation of reality to work from, instead of getting stuck in the brain.
All the time I hear absolutely ridiculous theories about social dynamics, travel, and business, and I know they’re ridiculous because of my extensive experience in the subjects (less so in business, but you get the point).
Base Yourself In Reality
In the end, life is meant to be lived, not thought of.
Do you really want to think about business, about fitness, about attracting that ideal partner?
Probably not.
So go get it! Go out and actually apply something, as that’s how you succeed!
You’ll have to ‘fail’ a bit at first, but that’s okay, because in the long-term you will succeed.
No More Learning!
That is why I’m avoiding learning, even when it seems obvious to do so. I simply see no more value in mindlessly “learning” more information.
All it will do is cause me more restless nights as I process the information and think of ways I can apply it.
In a world where you can be and do and learn anything, it’s important to stop entertaining the options at a certain point.
You need to take action. Bring ONE thing into reality, and if that isn’t satisfying, then go onto the next!
-Michael
