Think like a beginner.
Picture yourself sitting on a comfortable couch, focused on a child attempting to take their first steps. You’re doing nothing more than observing what’s going on, not participating in the effort. The child can pull themselves up to a standing position, but their ability to balance, shift their weight, and take steps is slightly beyond their capacity. Nonetheless, they continue to try, fall, pull themselves up, and try again. Over time, they take one, then two, and finally, multiple steps. Finally, they’ve accomplished one of humanity's significant milestones: the ability to walk.
The challenges that come with self-awareness.
At no point did the child feel insecure, embarrassed, or ashamed that they couldn’t accomplish this task. They didn’t quit, pout, or become overly frustrated over their inability to take multiple steps. A toddler's brain isn’t burdened with what others may think of them; they’re not self-aware beyond knowing that they exist separate from others. This advantage allows them to look at the world with amazement and wonder. Everything is new, curiosity abounds, and learning to master their environment isn’t laden with self-consciousness. “I wonder what mom and dad are thinking” was never a thought or consideration when a child was taking their first steps.
It’s important to remember this insight as we grow into adulthood. As we become more self-aware, we also become burdened with noticing our differences. We possess advantages or disadvantages and continually compare these against others. Our values build an internal ranking system, and we can slowly lose that youthful courage and curiosity to try anything and look at every new experience as an opportunity to learn and grow. We become set in our beliefs and opinions, valuing safety and assurance over courage and curiosity.
How to manage self-criticism.
Consider this idea the next time you’re doing something new or outside your comfort zone. It might be something you’re not very good a but still want to do and improve. We were all beginners at some point, and we were all beginners before we became experts in whatever field we’re in. There are benefits to having an aptitude or strength that may make new endeavors easier or more enjoyable. Still, there are also valuable experiences when we travel along the learning curve. Don’t allow self-conscious frustration or embarrassment to override the ability to discover and learn. It hinders growth and is detrimental to our confidence and self-worth.
When we expand this idea to other areas, we see newness in the common. We’re looking at the world differently and disrupting our thoughts and beliefs about what we do. In doing so, we’re finding novel differences that enrich the experience and expand our knowledge of what we thought we knew. Taking a beginner's approach to areas where we consider ourselves experts reveal aspects and details we overlooked when traveling down the road the first time.
Think big picture.
Part of ingraining this mindset is suspending concern for what others may think of you. I say suspend because it can be essential to listen to the advice and opinions of others, especially loved ones or close allies. However, it’s vital to allow wonder and exploration to take center stage when embarking on new adventures. Instead of applying the same tactic and effort, consider a different approach or allow yourself flexibility in measuring progress or success. Remember that achieving any worthwhile goal comes with vast experience on what it took to get there, and there are many paths to the same destination.
There will always be naysayers and people who doubt you and your ability to achieve. Unfortunately, these people often share a desire to achieve something themselves but still lack the courage to take that first step. Don’t allow someone else’s insecurities to infect your own. Your lack of current skill or ability is a temporary condition and will slowly dissipate through consistent discipline and effort. Before long, you will have moved past those initial feelings of inability and gained well-earned confidence.
One of the most significant benefits of thinking like a beginner is the need to focus on the important details of whatever skill or action you’re taking. It’s almost impossible to overcomplicate or overthink something when focused on the essential key components that leverage the others. Once these skills are mastered, much of what follows will flow easily. Identifying these fundamental steps takes effort, but the benefits far outweigh the costs.
Bringing it all together.
As we mature and gain experience throughout our lives, we slowly gain more significant insights into who we are. If we’re introspective, we question the meaning behind our thoughts and feelings and gradually display those to the outside world. Growing into a more complex human being is inevitable, but we shouldn’t forget or ignore the benefits of remembering when everything we experienced was new. The irony is reflecting on these moments long after they occurred while still gleaning memory's benefits and applying our developed sense of self. We can apply our wisdom and insight to a prior experience and vice versa. Using a beginner’s mind for a new endeavor can focus our actions and move us quickly toward competence and confidence. And once there, we can find a new adventure and start again.