Connecting to the domain of personal growth and self development, Chris Brogan, professional speaker, community and social media guru and author of the New York Times bestseller "Trust Agents", on his website has done a review of a book by Nick Morgan, "Give Your Speech, Change the World: How to Move Your Audience to Action." The reason I bring it up here on my blog is much symmetry between Chris' topic and the topic of recent posts here on my blog - learning and learning techniques.

Both speaking and learning we acquire and practice naturally, almost effortlessly. Therefore, learning to speak and to learn appears rather superfluous at first sight, or even an oxymoron when it comes to learning to learn. We are not sure what to expect of it, or we are outright skeptical. However, when we do give it a try in spite of everything, our reactions are frequently along the lines of Chris Brogan's reaction to Nick Morgan's book about speaking - "well, I took tons from it, and you might, too, either as a beginner or someone with some speeches under your belt."

By all means, read Nick Morgan's book, and at the same time give learning about learning a try too - you might find yourself taking tons from it. Yes, there is a difference between (just) learning and learning (consciously) - "Learn Consciously, Rock Your World: How To Move Yourself Confidently In The Direction Of Your Dreams."

Personal growth (self development, personal development) and success often require learning. Learning can be expensive, but some of the things needed for success we can learn from cats, for free.

Stretch

Cats are so much more advanced, stretching-wise. Humans, myself included, if they stretch at all, don't stretch enough. Stretching is free and therefore doesn't have commercial appeal. Imagine watching as many commercials for stretching as for drinks and cars - there would be a whole lot more stretching going on. Well, in the absence of commercials, watch the cats, and before long you'll stretch more.

Breathe Right

Do you know among mammals, humans are the only species that breathes through the mouth at the slightest effort? Horses, cheetahs and, yes, cats still breathe through their nostrils even at full stretch, such as when racing at top speed. But many humans switch to breathing through their mouth at the slightest effort, such as when lacing their shoes or climbing a flight of stairs. If you want vibrant energy, take a hint from your cat (or from your neighbor's cat), breathe through your nostrils. Make deep breathing exercises an integral part of your habits. Rediscover there's more to your nose than to serve as support for seeing glasses.

In A Heartbeat

Cats' ability to go from sound asleep to ready to pounce in a heartbeat, is amazing. As if they had their paw permanently on an on-off switch somewhere inside. Don't you just wish you knew their secret? To sleep a lot? Hm-mm, something to think about.

Hold No Grudges

Like people, cats have great talent for showing disapproval when upset, but unlike some people, cats do not hold grudges. To forgive and move on is easy for cats because cats are not upset with people, only with peoples' behavior. Behavior is much easier to forgive than people. Cats know instinctively that people are not their behaviors - an important lesson we can learn from cats.

Do you know other stuff we could or should learn from cats? Please let me know - I'd be happy to post an expanded "Life Enhancers We Can Learn From Cats" with your comments.

If you want a better life, but are willing to do more than just hope and actually create your own future, and if you like simple changes that come with big benefits, take a look at a tool, in fact, a solution that is Simple, Legal, Inexpensive, Good For You, Practical And Works Every Time

Make a change in how you learn - not in what you learn, but in how you learn - is among the easiest and most profitable changes you can make in life. The initial investment is small and the potential benefit infinite. It is like finding gold in a field of gold that has not previously been mined for gold. Among the best little known secrets around, it beats artificial life sweeteners by (s)miles.

The skill of learning is often overlooked because we take learning for granted. The first thing we do when we come into this life, right after taking our first breath, is learning. If you're like me, chances are you got so busy learning, you never stopped. You never even stopped to learn how to learn - a mistake, because the difference in learning versus learning the right way is enormous. At least it's what I found from personal experience. I used to think learning about learning was an oxymoron. Now I know it can be the difference between a life and an extraordinary life.

How You Learn Determines Everything

How you learn determines what you know. What you know leads to what you do and don't do in life - the choices you make. What you do (and refrain from doing) produces the results in life. The sum of your results added up, are your life. Therefore, change how you learn and you change your life! Simple, legal, inexpensive, lasting, good for you, good for others, works every time and never fails.

What Is Learning, Anyway?

All learning involves teaching. In an ideal world the teacher is an actual person in an actual classroom. In the real world the teacher often has no face and the lessons, as well as the exams, just happen. In fact, much learning is achieved in this way, when there is no-one around but you and you find yourself both teacher and student at the same time.

Take a minute to imagine. Does the teacher know about both the teaching and the learning? How are you teaching yourself - what are your teaching style and method? What would you teach? Are you - the student - hungry to learn and explore? Is there joy and harmony between the teacher and the student? To take your life to a whole new level, simply make your vision real - create the best teacher-student interaction you're capable of. It's within your control.

What We Learn

What we learn typically consists of learning about the world around us, then about life, then about success, and lastly, about ourselves.

While closely entwined and operating together in harmony, the basic areas of learning - the world, life, success and ourselves - are also separate entities, each subject to its own rules and regulations as it were. You can achieve great progress in one area of learning while remaining utterly stuck and confused in another. There are people who "know everything" but achieve little, as well as people who "know nothing" yet possess the midas touch. It is difficult also to achieve balance, as evidenced by stories of rich and famous disasters - people who are successful in one area of their lives, sometimes exceedingly so, yet unable to transfer success to other areas of their life.

Learn (And Do) More By Learning Less

The first step to a better life is to stop all learning ... with the exception of the learning needed, if any, for doing great things (specifically, what you believe are great things). The best way to achieve a truly great life is to do excellent work. The best way to do excellent work is to love what you do. Resolve to work primarily for the sensation you have while working. If you are still looking for what you love to do, limit your learning to what's needed to find it. Learn to ask the right questions. If you knew today were the last day of your life, would you still go with the plans you had for today? If the answer is "No" for too many days in a row, it might be time to make changes. Do not settle. Keep looking. Do not lose faith.

Learn less and let go. Let go of what you can hold on with your hands, and of what you can hold on with your mind, but never ever let go of your faith and never ever let go with your heart. Your heart already knows what you truly want to become.

Happy new learning and happy new life!

Relevant Quotes

• “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” – Vincent Lombardi
• “Anything less than a conscious commitment to the important is an unconscious commitment to the unimportant.” – Steven Covey
• “The whole course of things is to teach us faith.” – Emerson
• "You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself." – Galileo
• "Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils." – Hector Berlioz

Related Blogs, Blog Posts

• http://commadot.com/the-curse-of-knowledge/