Expressing gratitude can become an important aspect of our learning. Think about how we often learn something new. Typically, our learning involves elements of trial and error, working to gain new skills, or incorporating new perspectives. This isn't always easy, yet, we feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in achieving a learning goal, mastering a new skill, or gaining insights that unlock new creativity. We can easily move from learning one thing to the next as we add to our learning over time. Stopping to reflect, if even briefly, can become a powerful dimension in our learning. How does reflecting and gratitude help us in learning?
"Stopping to reflect, if even briefly, can become a powerful dimension in our learning."
Reflecting on our experiences and observations has long been recognized as an important aspect in effective learning. This can include reflecting on a specific scenario and what was learned, for example, but we can also reflect on the process of learning, not simply what we learned as a result. When we reflect on the process of learning we can gain insight into the ways we best learn, the tools we found to be most effective, and the people who shaped our learning.
As we reflect, this opens us up to expressing gratitude - we can do this by focusing on what we love about learning, the learning milestones we've accomplished, and the ways in which learning has connected us with new possibilities & people.
Quick Steps to Gratitude
Where to start? Here are three quick ways to build reflection and gratitude into your learning:
Keep a gratitude list or journal - this helps you to regularly track learning moments, insights, feelings related to the joy of learning, or other aspects of learning that you are thankful for that you might otherwise miss. Over time, this becomes a powerful motivational tool that is unique to you and fuels further growth.
Track your learning milestones - keeping a close eye on what you're learning helps encourage your sense of growth and motivates you to keep going. Whether it's a course or a module you've recently finished, a certificate, or even a book that you loved, take a moment to track what you learned, how it is shaping you, and how you can grow as a result.
Express gratitude - when you are tracking your learning and what you're grateful for, you are primed to express gratitude. This can be sending a note of thanks to a teacher, instructor, or an author, or finding other ways to share how learning better equipped you and fostered your growth. Becoming more mindful of your learning will open up new possibilities for reflecting, giving thanks, and staying motivated as you keep learning.
Thanks for reading and we hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
- Team Lightbox
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