The fastest way to learn is also the easiest

Children know the fastest way to learn. It’s also the easiest. They don't need anyone to teach them the technique. They do it naturally and immediately. It fades into the background as we mature into adulthood, but we can bring it back with intentionality.

I'm talking about the power of learning through observation. If doing is the best way to learn, and it is, observation is the easiest way to learn.

But rather than observe what leads to success, I first observe what blocks people from the success they desire. I look for the decisions, behaviors, and patterns that derail people and their efforts.

For example:

• Observe how often people have plenty of knowledge yet fail to act.
• Observe how often people get defensive about things they know are true.
• Observe how often people hide the truth simply because it is uncomfortable.
• Observe how often people push responsibility away when they could pull it close.
• Observe how often people hold others to standards they don't apply to themselves.
• Observe how often people confuse their opinion with an objective truth.
• Observe how often people react on immediate impulse rather than respond with controlled discipline.
• Observe how often people listen with no interest in understanding.

The closer you observe, the more patterns you will notice. The more you will recognize how common obvious undisciplined patterns are. The more often you will recognize their consequences. The more you will realize you cannot afford these patterns in yourself.

Spend the next two weeks in observation. Turn down your desire to express. Turn up your radar and tune it to observe others.

What do you notice? How much can you learn about why specific dynamics happen the way they do? How much can you learn about yourself and your life by observing how often people block their own effort?

Brick by brick. Do the work.