In the critically acclaimed “The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance”, Timothy Gallwey draws a distinction between The Usual Way of Learning and The Inner Game Way of Learning.
The Usual Way of Learning:
Step 1: Criticize or judge past behavior
Step 2: Tell yourself to change; instructing with word commands repeatedly.
Step 3: Try hard; make yourself do it right.
Step 4: Critical judgment about results leading to paralysis by analysis
The Inner Game Way of Learning:
Step 1: Observe your behavior nonjudgementally
Step 2: Picture desired outcome
Step 3: Let it happen! Trust your intuitive self
Step 4: Nonjudgmental, calm observation of the results leading to continuing observation and learning.
It is safe to say that most of us spend way too much time learning in the “usual” way.
The good news is that it is never too late for an upgrade…
“A child doesn’t dig his way out of his old grooves; he simply starts new ones! The groove may be there , but you’re not in it unless you put yourself there. If you think you are controlled by a bad habit, then you will feel you have to try to break it. A child doesn’t have to break the habit of crawling, BECAUSE he doesn’t think he has a habit. He simply leaves it as he finds walking an easier way to get around” (Gallwey, 1974, p. 74).
