11. Gimme That Growth Mindset (Always Be Learning).
Sooner or later, it was bound to happen: I would feel obliged to weave allll the “dog phrases” into these essays. You know the ones I mean: “Don’t end up in the doghouse,” “Let sleeping dogs lie,” “Sick as a dog” or “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” and the like.
In this case, however, teaching an old(er) dog new tricks is what it’s all about this week.
Want to keep your mind sharp, well into old age? Keep learning.
Want to find life interesting, even when there’s not much going on? Keep learning.
Want to remain youthful, current, and engaged in the world around you? Keep learning.
Want to make full use of those extra hours of solitary confinement while serving your prison sentence? Keep learning.
See? Maintaining your cognition and learning new things is a useful practice, no matter where you are in the circle of life!
In her seminal book, Mindset, Carol Dweck tells us there are two basic ways to look at intelligence and our ability to learn. People with a “fixed” mindset believe that most human traits are predetermined and secured early on: you’re either born smart, or you’re not. If you believe in a “growth” mindset, on the other hand, then you trust that things can change and that with effort, you can become smarter and learn what you need to improve your life.
Clearly, if dogs CAN learn new tricks, then we humans should be equally capable, right?
Chaser is a perfect example of the growth mindset. Even at almost 16 (that’s, like, Queen Mum age in dog years), she recently learned how to uncover treats in an “exercise the dog’s brain” puzzle. I wasn’t sure she’d go along with it (I mean, why work for a treat when all you need do is stare yearningly at Mum?), but she seemed genuinely interested in the game and how to solve it.
Yes, it took her some time. But slowly, she learned that nudging a lever to the right or left would uncover a treat hidden below. What began as a slightly frustrating endeavor ended up with a pile of rewards.
Zoey, as a younger dog, is much more keen about learning. In fact, I’d say that her cattle dog genes make learning a strong drive for her. And while she’s definitely an “adult” now (more than four years old–where does the time go?!), she’s still constantly excited about learning something new.
“I just can’t wait to get out and get learning, Mum.”
Give Zoey a treat, and she’s willing to master almost any trick. Recently, I watched a video of a cattle dog doing “figure eights” through her owner’s legs and thought, “Yes! I want to teach that to Zoey!” It was surprisingly easy to do, once she realized a biscuit was forthcoming after each loop. Fifteen minutes later, she was weaving through my legs like a champ.
As for humans’ capability to learn new things, I’m with Dweck on that one. You know how Alec Baldwin’s character, the sleazy sales manager in Glengarry Glen Ross, tells his agents to “ABC” (Always Be Closing)? Well, my own motto is ABL: Always Be Learning.
I truly believe that if you keep working at something—and are given enough time—you could learn just about anything. Humans really do have limitless potential.
Realistically, what does this mean? Well, sure, at my stage of the game, I’m not going to become a world-class figure skater (though I could probably learn to do those “figure 8’s” through the hubby’s legs).
I might, however, still become proficient at a new language, learn to play an instrument, understand how to adjust the html on my computer files, or unearth new meanings in Tennyson’s poetry (because even as we age, it’s still critical “to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield”).
And continuing to learn is good for your health. Studies have shown that keeping the mind engaged can prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s, or at least slow its progress. In a recent podcast, Kat Toups, a functional medicine psychiatrist, concluded that retirement might actually decrease our mental health (and thereby increase chances of developing dementia). Staying sharp and continuing to learn new things is one of several ways to reverse the problem (listen in here for the others).
Personally, I consider lifelong learning an essential activity, one that keeps us healthy in many ways. Plus, it’s a great encouragement to those of us who haven’t yet achieved all those goals we wrote down in our 30s. If Nola Ochs could earn her college degree at age 95; if Frank McCourt could publish his first book (Angela’s Ashes, a Pulitzer Prize-winner) at 66; if Julia Child could begin her stellar career as a chef in her 50s–well, then, that’s all the inspiration I need to keep going, even at my advanced age.
We know it’s important, and we know it works–so how about we keep learning this week?
I’ll aim for one new idea or concept a day. Ambitious, I know–but I’ve got plenty of human treats on hand to keep me motivated.
What might you learn this week? Perhaps read about how learning helps to decrease your risk of Alzheimer’s? Or maybe learn how to perform a new trick of your own? What about memorizing a phone number this time, instead of letting the phone do it? Or simply dig in to a topic of interest and see what new information comes up.
Here’s to a growth mindset, lifelong learning, and staying lucid well into old age.
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Follow up to last week’s challenge: Spend Time in Nature (Winter Be Damned).
I’ve got to admit, Mother Nature must have taken pity on me over the past week. While this time of year often heralds snowfall and lots of driveway-shoveling, our days have been eerily mild and, dare I say, spring-like over the past seven days.
It’s not really too much of a chore to enjoy the weather when it’s sunny and 11C (52F) outside. As I’m wont to say, if the weather never got colder than that, I’d be so much happier living here.
So maybe this challenge needs to continue (horrors!) through the entire winter. I know it would be unprecedented–and would make me (and the hubs) incredibly happy–if I could enjoy even a wee bit of the frozen tundra snow and ice this winter.
So, for this topic, anyway: challenge ongoing!
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Over to you:
Would you characterize yourself as having a growth mindset or a fixed mindset? Why?
What’s the best trick you ever taught your dog? Bonus points for photos or video.
Did you manage to enjoy the weather last week? (If you’re in the southern hemisphere, that’s cheating. What’s not to enjoy about summer?).