As human beings we are used to learning constantly from the moment we are born. We learn through study, repetition or experience and we create habits that help us solve problems quickly. However, times change and each time we need different tools or new skills to solve the problems that arise with the changes of time. For this reason I believe that one of the vital skills for our development in this new era is unlearning and relearning.
The futurist sociologist Alvin Toffler spoke about this ability to unlearn and is credited with a phrase that says: "in the 21st century the new illiterates will not be those who do not know how to read and write but the people who don’t know how to learn, unlearn and relearn".
Unlearning is like reprogramming the things we already know, it’s not that we throw our knowledge away, but it is about having the disposition to understand that the way we have learned or have been taught may no longer be the most efficient solution. We need to have the ability to recognize that it’s necessary to adjust to the constant changes in ideologies and contexts, what worked yesterday may no longer work today.
I recently talked about soft skills in my article: The importance of developing soft skills and if I had to compare unlearning and relearning with these it would be with flexibility of thought and the ability to adapt to changes.
One of the biggest limitations for the development of this skill is when we think that we already know how to do everything because we have done it before. Thinking things like "I've tried that before and it doesn't work" or "I've always done things this way" limit us to trying new methods or opening ourselves up to how we can solve something. Being aware that we do not know everything and we do not always have the correct answer is very important for this process.
Unlearning is a process that is made up of three stages:
Introspection: Here we must recognize which are the habits, customs and convictions that prevent us from learning something new.
Identification: It is necessary to identify what we are going to change, how we are going to do it and what we hope to achieve through this change.
Change: Change is difficult for all people, to achieve it we can focus on what our final goal is, the benefits that it can bring us and seek support to achieve it if possible.
I hope this article has helped you or at least has made you think about the things that are limiting you to reach a goal or solve a problem and that you can begin this process of unlearning and relearning. I'd love to know if you've had to unlearn anything before to solve a problem. Do you think you've mastered this skill?
