Caitlin Powderly of Florida works as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. In the following article, Caitlin Powderly discusses how education fuels personal growth. A recent AARP study on lifelong learning showed that over half of Americans (55%) are involved in actively learning new things in a quest for personal growth. Learning not only enhances our knowledge, but it opens us up to new perspectives and helps us develop a more comprehensive understanding of the world and our place in it. Both formal and informal education can help us grow in our jobs and our everyday lives. Whether learning to cook, acquiring a new language, or taking a self-directed online course in filmmaking, lifelong learning helps improve everything from employability to confidence to cognitive health. Caitlin Powderly notes that, no matter a person's age, continuing to learn and being open to understanding new things can be beneficial. Below, more on why lifelong learners are happier and healthier people.

Caitlin Powderly on Expanding the Mind with Education

Education is like exercise for the brain. And it's meant to be challenging! New ideas force us to think outside the box, consider new perspectives, and use our memory to retain and apply information. It also provides learners with a broader vocabulary to communicate ideas in their everyday lives. In other words, Caitlin Powderly of Florida explains that education changes the brain for the better, creating new pathways and rewiring the brain for better control over intellectual and emotional wellbeing. And studies have shown that engaging in regular learning activities, such as reading, problem-solving, or learning a musical instrument, can help maintain cognitive function and delay the onset of age-related cognitive decline.

The Gift of Lifelong Learning

In addition to opening up new perspectives, Caitlin Powderly says that lifelong learning has been shown to:

• Improve confidence by bringing people to the edge of their comfort zones. Once a person realizes they can surpass an obstacle like not understanding a subject, they get a self-esteem boost. This, in turn, can help them learn more.
• Help people find new interests and passions by introducing them to subjects and skills that they wouldn't normally have pursued. Having hobbies and interests can make a person feel more energized, help them cope with stress, and live a richer, more active life.
• Allow learners to develop a sense of community by introducing them to like-minded people who are interested in the same things. Social interaction can help decrease loneliness, give people a sense of purpose, make them feel more connected, and improve mental health - even if their communities exist online.
• Help people live longer, healthier lives. Education has long been correlated with better health.

Caitlin Powderly of Florida says that learning gives people a sense of fulfillment, whether they're studying philosophy or learning beekeeping. Tapping into all these good things only requires the will to try. In fact, a person doesn't even have to be good at what they're learning as long as they're enjoying it.

Overcoming Barriers to Lifelong Learning

For people who've had negative or otherwise traumatic formal education experiences, the thought of learning something new can be intimidating. But there's nothing that says a person's grades in high school dictate what or how they should learn after that. These days, the sky's the limit, and lifelong learning doesn't even require sitting in a classroom. Caitlin Powderly of Florida notes that other barriers to lifelong learning can include ageism (especially for those who would like to return to school for a formal degree with a different set of experiences than the average college student), a lack of time, and low confidence in one's abilities that interfere with motivation. The good news is that these can largely be overcome. Online courses, YouTube instructional videos, a leisurely flip through a book on a new subject, or a learning app on a smartphone are all ways to learn new information and skills without feeling rushed or judged. At some point, people will want to test their skills to ensure they're really learning, but informal learning is largely judgment-free. Failing a test might be disappointing, but not embarrassing.

Summary

Caitlin Powderly of Florida says that deciding to step out on a limb and try something new may seem daunting, but there's much to gain. Lifelong learning is a powerful catalyst for personal growth. Not only does picking up a new skill or developing a new interest allow people to broader their horizons, but it gives them the opportunity to take charge of their lives, bolster their careers, and their health, and encourages the kind of community-building and engagement that leads to a longer life.