Learning State? A peek into Neuro Linguistic Programming Continued

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Context

In my first article from this NLP series, I wrote about what neuro linguistic programming is, how and where it can be helpful and what all scientifically proven concepts it is based on. In this article, I am going to delve into a specific topic ‘A Learning State’.

While the concept of Leaning State is not only confined to NLP, a lot of neurological research has gone into backing the benefits of attaining the Learning State. Most of these states come very naturally to us, just that we are not aware of those. So what is Learning State?

What

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Learning State is about being curious. About ‘being in wonder’ state. It’s a state wherein we are not stuck in opinions or are confined by our limited view of things. Learning State is also referred to as ‘Peripheral Vision’ and it is derived originally from Hakalau, Hawaian meditation. And well, if we go to the roots of Yoga, I realised one of the super useful techniques recommended for focus and reducing mental clutter, ‘Tratak’, is also all about becoming more curious about things around. It is a way of learning state.

We all as human beings tend to get stressed out at times or more? :) If we were to notice the meta information about such states, it is when our body is tight, breathing is unnecessarily fast, eyes are over-focused and strained and so on.

Now let’s talk about an easy state. Imagine your favourite musician or singer. When he or she is performing, is he tense? Or is at ease? Most likely that the artist would be in an ease state, curious, enjoying the process. Enjoying the game, the performance.

We are all artists or makers of our lives, then why not learn more about states that are helpful in shaping it?

How

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What are the conscious steps to take to enhance our Learning State?

Find and focus on any object at your eye level. The initial focus is called as foveal vision. Continue to focus on it for a short some time, say 20 seconds.

Now focus a bit above the object and then start expanding your awareness by looking both at the object as well as to the side ways up to 180 degrees or even more.

Slowly you will observe and sense more things in this expanded vision. In turn, you are not really de-focusing from the object but you are also trying to intake more from your surroundings. Those may be newer objects, audios, sensations etc.

Doing this exercise improves a person’s peripheral vision. Mind state becomes more relaxed and this is the ‘Curious George’ state. Or imagine Tom and Jerry running around looking for creating curious ways to keep on doing new things. Or of course small children when they are just in a learning state without even knowing about NLP and Learning State. :) It’s we, adults who need to work on getting rid of our ‘not-so-helpful’ states and become a good learner again.

Stages of Learning

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While learning anything new, we unconsciously go through following steps.

1. Unconscious Incompetence

Initially you (and I) are not even aware that you don’t know something. That is called unconscious incompetence.

2. Conscious Incompetence

This is a state wherein you know that you do not know something. There is a gap. And you are willing to working on it.

3. Conscious Competence

This is probably the long running state wherein hard work happens. Or wherein you really work towards learning with total dedication and focus.

4. Unconscious Competence

This is where practice comes through to a mastery level. Or you are so competent that you are not even aware or conscious about doing. It does not require ‘work’ as such. You are relaxed in this state. The skill comes naturally to you, so much so that biggest creations in the creative space have occurred while in this state. Say paintings, musical master pieces or breakthrough researches, innovative products etc.

Real life Scenario

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So enough of theory! Let’s look at a real life scenario wherein Learning State is a powerful concept to observe.

Unconscious Incompetence

I am not even aware that I am interested in playing music keyboard. I don’t even know I don’t know it. I am not even aware of this whole world of piano playing, keyboard playing. I am complacent with it (not learning it), because I do not even know about it. I have a narrow view or vision of this world wherein not playing music keyboard is just alright because I am unaware of its joys or benefits.

Conscious Incompetence

I see a beautiful brand new Yamaha keyboard at the ‘Circuit City’ shop nearby and I am getting a discount too. All of a sudden I become conscious of this object. I was always interested in probably my whole life but it never appeared to me I may buy it. How would I learn, who will teach me? Mostly I had reasons not to go for it. But at least I am now ‘Consciously incompetent’ in this area :) I am at least aware of this skill gap. Nevertheless I am still skipping the decision to buy it as I am not yet into my Learning State. It all seems difficult. I go home.

Later it strikes to me that I need to put in efforts in learning a keyboard. I must take an ‘action’. I go back to the shop next day, buy it. Get the whole new world, a new fantastic world to home.

Conscious Competence

Now though, I am really interested in putting focus, concentration and time in learning it, despite my working hours. This brings new questions. How would I learn, who would teach me etc. The same questions are now in a different context. I already have the keyboard. My previously foveal vision is now expanded into peripheral vision. I can see my keyboard, I can hear it, I can see various colorful and exciting buttons on the keyboard now. The most importantly, I can create and play music through it. There are so many settings on the keyboard.

Hey, I can try those settings out. I was earlier afraid, but now I am not. I don’t have teacher or guru in nearby. No worries, I can even learn myself. I also notice that there are in built lessons in it. Why not learn on my own, at least in the beginning? I put aside 15 mins every day learning it myself using the lessons inside. The lessons I notice, are beautifully created. There are right hand, left hand and both hand lessons that patiently wait for the player, which is now me, to play a correct key. It does not judge me for my mistakes, tells me ‘well done’ automatically when I play well. [I am talking about 2001 when we did not use chatGPT :)]

I feel empowered to learn even more. And fun, hard work, detours and of course challenges, go on. I start learning through various dimensions- auditory, visual, kinesthetic. I become Consciously Competent, at least as a beginner level player.

Unconscious Competence

This is the area where I have now gotten unconsciously competent in this skill area. I automatically know which keys to play, which keys sound well, which keys do not sound that well. In between there has been a repeated process where in I do meet ‘real’ human being teacher, Mr Vipul Samani and I learn quite a lot from him. I learn how hard it is to play one single song with its stanzas. For many years later and until now I have one teacher in the family from whom I learn through modelling, discussing new trends, whom I can ask my basic questions any time- my brother Sasmit Rudra, who himself went on to become true master in piano playing and keyboard playing, and built his career out of it. His soulful music playing inspires me, touches my heart and I realize that there is no end to learning.

While I am still beginner level player I feel, I have attained some expertise wherein I am practising and enjoying playing.

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On an Ending Note

We discussed learning states and how we learn. We discussed this topic through the lens of Neuro Linguistic Programming. How our language, actions, believes shape up new learnings and we become unconsciously comptetent at anything. I discussed my own real life journey here as I thought it would give my readers some glimpse into the theory via direct experience. There are numerous real life scenarios to learning states, driving, riding bike, public speaking, our specialized area of work which in my case is business analysis, products and process modelling.

Thoughts?

Author Info

Swati Pitre, CPRE®, CBAP®, is Sr. Business Analyst, Consultant and Trainer with 25+ years of industry experience across various domains and geographies. Her specialties include Product Development, AI, Process Improvement, BPM, Predictive Analytics, Quality, and Governance. She also undertakes various training courses such as CPRE®/CBAP®/CCBA®/ECBA® Prep Courses, Comprehensive BA Job oriented Course, BPMN, Agile BA Course, and several other customized courses. She is also an enthusiastic Toastmaster/Public Speaker and has completed the Effective Coaching Pathway at Toastmasters International.