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.