Learning How to Learn (IV): Desire

It is common knowledge but not common practice that without desire you cannot achieve anything meaningful in life. Learning isn’t any different. Most of the people in classrooms and other learning platforms don’t really desire it. They may want to learn, they may take a step to learn, they may even say they will learn but they don’t desire it. To desire is to want something strongly enough for you to take actions towards it. To desire is to defeat inertia. Desire is the springboard, your springboard to higher heights.

Imagine with me two friends, Sadiq and Bello, who sit lazily under a tree and discuss the fact that they were both very hungry. Sadiq says, “I only had a snack this morning, I am so hungry I can finish a buffalo!”

“You do not know what hunger is my friend,” Bello responds, “I haven’t eaten for 2 days!”

If we interrupt their discussion at this point we’ll all assume Bello would have a greater desire to get a meal having stayed without a meal for 2 days. 

Then there comes Tosin, who becomes privy to their discussion and says, “Why waste time talking rather than eating? There is a restaurant a kilometer away.”

“One kilometer?” asked Bello with sarcasm in every word, “Too far to travel just for food.”

“Not for me,” Sadiq says, “I am hungry and will pay any price to get a good meal.” He stands up and immediately leaves for the restaurant leaving Bello on the same spot looking hungry.

It was a fact that they were both hungry and also a fact that Bello should be hungrier having stayed without food for 2 days, but who among the friends desired to eat? Sadiq of course! This is so because desire is shown only with actions.

If you desire to learn anything it will show in your actions. It will show in the time invested in pursuit of the knowledge. It will show in the sacrifices you are willing to make to achieve your goal. It will show in the amount you are willing to spend on things related to it. Indeed, it will show in the thought energy you direct towards it.

Learning How to Learn (III): Probing Questions

First Associate Pastor: Can I chew gum while praying?

Senior Pastor: Definitely NOT! Why even consider it?

Second Associate Pastor: Can I pray while chewing gum?

Senior Pastor: Why not? The Bible says to, "Pray without ceasing!" 

Have you noticed that all kids are curious. Sometimes they are annoyingly curious. They want to see it, they want to touch it, they want to smell it, they want to hear it and they certainly want to taste it. This is one reason all drugs carry the caution: "Keep out of reach of children.” This inherent curiosity in kids is taken to be foolishness by many adults but the contrary is the case. It goes to show us that children are curious, which is a good thing because curiosity is the beginning stage of searching and it is, “the glory of God is to hide a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter,” (Proverbs 25:2). Kids are curious because they are creative. Their curiosity stems from their creativity.                                
You can use your curiosity, which is actually easier to form, to develop creativity. That’s the lifeline: use curiosity to develop creativity. The easiest way to do this by the way is by ensuring you do not see things in a single dimension. Do not look at things the way they come, rather look at them from a several-dimensional point of view and ask yourself probing questions. 

Questions open up doors that ordinarily will remain closed but it is noteworthy that not all questions will bring about the desired result. There are questions you can ask that will immediately shut the doors of further creativity while there are those that will make the creative genius flood your mind. Here are two tips on right questioning.

Tip no. 1: Ask yourself about changes. One form of questioning that will help you think more creatively is to ask yourself to change things and make them the way you would like them to be. This gives you room to innovate. For example:

● What would taste better if it were less sweet? How can I make it sweeter?

● What would be nicer if it were bigger? How can I make it bigger?

Tip no. 2: Ask yourself questions with lots of answers. You strengthen your creative thinking skill anytime you ask yourself questions that permit many correct answers. Here are some examples using the concept of air:

● What are some of the uses of air? 

● What floats in air? 

● How does air help us? 

● Why is cold air cold? 

Probing questions are some of the fastest ways to learn. Don't sit back and accept things only because they were told to you by a reputable source. Ask questions and take a quantum learning leap!

                                      [MAINLY CULLED FROM MY BOOK, "DO IT LIKE KIDS"]