Ken Robinson famously said that school kills creativity. But what it actually kills is curiosity.
During our school years, we get used to having the right answer; so we get one that slightly seems like the right one and we are done with looking.
This difference is what Julia Galef called the Soldier and Scout mindset: while the soldier will stick to the first answer and defend it, the scout will survey the territory and draw the most accurate map possible so he/she can see the whole picture.
Another point is that, in the same measure that we don’t get excited about learning (the first correct answer is enough), we don’t know how to deal with the discomfort of not knowing and the effort needed to actually know more.
And it doesn’t happen only with kids in schools.
In our work, when we reach a certain level of knowledge or expertise, it is hard to encounter something in our field that is particularly new.
You can do training, sign up for courses, buy books… But the disappointment of “I was expecting more” or “I thought it would be more interesting” is always there.
But it is not a bad thing and does not mean other people are stupid, though. You just reached a higher level of understanding in the field. In other words, you became (probably) an expert.
Well, there is a solution for both situations: according to research, you can’t reframe discomfort as positive, but you can reframe the meaning of learning.
“These findings suggest that people typically avoid discomfort”, explains Art Markman, Psychology professor at the University of Texas, “but when discomfort is framed as a signal that valuable learning is taking place, then people may seek discomfort in some situations (or at least be less likely to avoid it).”
In other words, you may find a way to appreciate discomfort and be motivated to do so if you learn how to transform it into meaningful learning situations. And do you know what can help you with that? Curiosity.
When we face learning situations with curiosity, the discomfort goes away -or at least becomes more bearable.
Have you been struggling to learn lately?
If so, how can you reframe it to be more curious about it?