The Unlearning Curve
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read or write. It will be those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.”
~Alvin Toffler
In his book “The Road Less Travelled” Dr. Scott Peck develops the concept of a “mental map.” As we each grow and experience the world our unconscious minds systematically build a map that incorporates all of the cause and effect relationships that we are taught and discover as we experience our lives through the lenses of our developing belief systems.
When occurrences come along that disagree with our mental maps, or when we experience something completely new, all of us make decisions as to whether or not to alter our maps to allow for this new information — like the discoverers of the New World.
History reveals that not all discoveries were welcomed at first, and so it is with our unconscious minds. New information that disagrees with what we already “know” is often rejected and dismissed — which is a major challenge, especially as we get older. Challenging and upgrading our existing “knowledge” starts with the process of “Unlearning.”
Altering our map gets tougher as we get older, especially if we haven’t engaged in a continuous process of challenging our map. Challenging your map involves a process of continuously seeking and learning. Most stop doing this when we complete our formal education — gradually getting more and more rigid, just as our muscles get stiffer and stiffer with age.
How do you keep from dismissing something new, just because it’s new? That is, how do you filter and validate new information that conflicts with your existing belief system– retain what’s valid, unlearn what’s not — and upgrade your mental map?
Whenever you come across something new and you have an emotional, gut level reaction of “WRONG!”, take a moment, slow down and ask yourself:
1) Why do I think that is wrong? As I look at it with adult eyes, in the full light of day, what does my the evidence and my heart tell me?
2) Where did I learn my existing beliefs on this topic?
3) Read further. Ask questions. Research, and come to your own conclusions.
Very often huge parts of our mental maps, or belief systems, were installed by teachers, adults, parents and others who had power over us. Many aspects of the learning we received was, and is, valid — but many, many parts are not. As mentally and spiritually healthy adults we need to actively question everything we believe, especially as it comes up against different belief systems in a diverse world.
Peace,
Rob, Mary & Wes
