5.1.7 Learning to Learn Core Report -- via LIPD Pathway

In the column to the right is 3 different Goals or Learning trajectories that I set during my LIPD one year ago: LIPD Broad Strokes, LIPD Next Steps, LIPD Skillflex Sheet.  During this Learning Review, it has been a valuable experience to reflect upon what and how I set out intentions at the start of my precapstone year.  A key learning includes revisiting the intentions I set to evaluate my pathway.  I was surprised to recognize that growth occurred in many of the broad strokes I painted and the specific skillflexes I articulated; however, the concrete steps to get there took a very different route.   This was a welcome surprise with the recognition that is is often the big targets that I am moving toward that are more significant on my always meandering emergent pathway.  

GaiaU has encouraged renegotiation as new information enters.  One of the largest consequences is that my intended trajectory of gathering information on permaculture techniques has yielded to more interest in focusing upon how i learn, document, present and design.  This year has helped me understand that pushing my edge toward focusing on how I learn, design and present offers more potential for growth than learning more about more topics.  I have invested less time this year in techniques of permaculture/land stewardship as I have been greatly increasing my awareness around design, facilitation and digital literacy.  I am grokking design and pattern and I have gained a new understanding of the process through which I learn rather than what I learn.

In addition to recognizing the importance of the process over the content, I successfully unlearned how I learn.  Or at the very least, recognized what my key learning style is and have created opportunity to expand myself through other learning styles.    Inspiration from Kolb’s experiential learning model  has shown me the effectiveness of active experimentation on my pathway rather than getting mired in abstract conceptualization where I tend to reside.  Inspiration for “just doing it” has given me a new strategy with which to journey on my pathway.  

Not surprisingly since I am shifting both the foundations of how I learn and the most important learnings to focus upon, my pathway has taken many a circuitous renegotiations from the intentions I set during my LIPD.   Because my pathway was continually renegotiated, the steps I thought I needed to take necessarily changed; however, the skillflexes I aspired to gain and the broad strokes pointing toward the lofty goals of the journey have largely been realized (or at least I am moving in that direction.)

Regarding the broad strokes, I certainly feel that Liam has grown considerably as healer and designer.   My abilities as chef have grown perhaps more in the delegation and organization realm than in the flavor profile; however there have been key learning about fats, braising meats and nourishing breastfeeding mothers.    As an artist, I never would have imagined that learning to photo edit in aperture and create iMovies was what I was talking about (ergo, I never would have set these as concrete next steps); however, I feel this will assist many of my future artistic endeavours.  Acceptance is a life value and the lens of unlearning this year allows release in the many of the ways in which judgement and evaluation flows from my pores.  I am discovering myself more accepting of alternative views and pathways.  I feel like I finally understand that there’s more than 1 way to skin a cat and I don’t need to judge someone else’s pathway or design.  This is a good part of being an effective friend, advisor and supportive follower.  And this very acceptance is crucial in not remaining attached to my concrete specific steps but allowing the journey to guide me. 

Ironically, almost every concrete specific step that I set up during my LIPD learning “Within year un/learning logistics” did not happen.  This is particularly ironic for me because i have been a huge fan of concrete specific articulations assisting personal growth.  This shows potent growth in what Gaia offerred rather than what I came to this program thinking I was going to do. This also shows acceptance on my part around renegotiations as new information entered my worldview.  Without altering my broad strokes or skillfexes that I hoped to gain; I was exceedignly willing to find new and different pathways to arrive there.  I am grateful that Gaia has allowed me to follow aspects of my agenda while inspiring significant growth in areas heretofore not even on my radar.

And as for my list of  “Skill Flex Spreadsheet including some Next Steps,”  I  was thrilled as I scanned down my intended skillfexes and saw that I registered improvement on just about every one.  This list didn’t necessarily quantify how, it was just general skills that got worked over this year.  Perhaps I am unlearning the value of trying to give too much control.  In addition,  what feels true is that I am totally okay with interventions encouraging me to shift from all those specific intentions (some more and less out of my control) as I recognize that my sister’s pregnancy emergently shifted how I thought my Autumn/winter would unravel.  And I am completely grateful for the interventions life has provided and my willingness to adapt. 

Overall, I found the process of setting intentions to set me on a good pathway.  I am grateful for Gaia’s encouragement toward renegotiation and recognizing that I may flow with my intentions as new information arises.    I also find this learning review valuable as I often set intentions with new oons and winter soulstices, I rarely revisit what I set out to do.