Tiny Buddha

Tag: skill

  • Learning is a Series of Steps: 7 Tips to Master a New Skill

    Learning is a Series of Steps: 7 Tips to Master a New Skill

    Learning

    “The excitement of learning separates youth from old age. As long as you’re learning, you’re not old.” ~Rosalyn S. Yalow

    A few weeks ago, at the age of thirty-something, I started the process of learning to drive.

    To be completely honest, it has been a daunting experience, especially for an overachiever like me.

    Most of the tasks I undertake I find relatively easy, but not driving.

    Seeing as I’m an introspective kind of person, I‘ve been curious to identify what it is that I’ve been struggling with these past few weeks. The answer is an obvious one: fear.

    Fear of the unknown. Fear of losing control. Fear of being responsible for my conduct on unknown roads in an unchartered territory.

    In theory, I know that I have nothing to fear. I know that everything we have ever learned is learned through a series of steps—and driving is no different.

    If you’re an experienced driver, you may be reading this wondering what all the fuss is about, but there is a lot to learn when you set out.

    What I’ve learned is that these things take time.

    There have been lessons where I’ve come out swearing I’ll never get in a car again, and then lessons where I’ve felt surprisingly in control and at ease with everything.

    Regardless, I know that if I follow the steps, I will eventually get there.

    If you’re learning a new skill, breaking a new habit, or simply trying to change yourself for the better, it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen if you commit. (more…)

  • Giveaway and Interview: The Practicing Mind by Thomas M. Sterner

    Giveaway and Interview: The Practicing Mind by Thomas M. Sterner

    Note: The winners for this giveaway have already been chosen. Subscribe to Tiny Buddha for free daily or weekly emails and to learn about future giveaways!

    The Winners:

    Have you ever feared you’ll never excel at a skill or reach a goal you set? Have you ever judged yourself or your efforts as “not good enough,” creating a sense of paralysis? Or how about this: Have you ever felt so eager to excel that the process became stressful and unsatisfying?

    In his book The Practicing Mind: Developing Focus and Discipline in Your Life, Thomas M. Sterner explores how to “master any skill or challenge by learning to love the process,” as the cover reads.

    Sterner has mastered quite a few challenges; he’s a concert piano technician, an accomplished musician, a pilot, and a golfer—and he’s learned how to practice each skill with a focus on the present.

    Sharing personal anecdotes, insights, and lessons, Sterner teaches us how to simplify and concentrate on the task at hand; break goals into smaller, more manageable steps; and slow down so that we can give our full attention to each step along the way.

    I highly recommend The Practicing Mind to anyone who wants to find more joy in the process of working toward their goals, and in doing so increase their effectiveness.

    The Giveaway

    To enter to win 1 of 2 free copies of The Practicing Mind:

    • Leave a comment below
    • Tweet: RT @tinybuddha Book GIVEAWAY & Interview: The Practicing Mind http://bit.ly/R5EnKh

    If you don’t have a Twitter account, you can still enter by completing the first step. You can enter until midnight PST on Sunday, August 12th. (more…)

  • 8 Ways to Be More Confident: Live the Life of Your Dreams

    8 Ways to Be More Confident: Live the Life of Your Dreams

    “With realization of one’s own potential & self confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.” ~Dalai Lama

    For the vast majority of my life I didn’t believe I could do most of the things I wanted to do.

    I knew I wanted to be in a relationship, but I feared that if I got into one I’d do something to mess it up.

    I wanted to perform on Broadway, but even moving to New York City didn’t give me the courage to audition.

    I wanted to be a writer, but I thought it was far too difficult to get published and therefore didn’t even try until my late twenties.

    Maybe you’ve never been as unsure of yourself as I used to be, but you can likely relate to that feeling of wanting to do something but feeling terrified to start. This not only limits your potential in life; it also minimizes your ability to make a positive impact on the world around you.

    There’s a lot that goes into overcoming those fears. You may need to challenge limiting beliefs formed years ago, or take yourself out of a situation where other people undermine your abilities. One thing that will definitely help is working on your confidence.

    Not sure if confidence can be learned? I asked this question on the Tiny Buddha Facebook page to see what readers had to say and then used some of their responses to shape the steps outlined below: (more…)