Hack your learning - Curiosity + courage = learning + change

“The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.” 
― C. JoyBell C.

Recently I've reignited my intrigue for TED talks.

I'd heard about this video about hack schooling by Logan LaPlante and decided to look it up.

I loved the courage, curiosity and humour to his talk, the excitement for the choices he has been able to make by taking a different educational path.

I love that he starts with the question that annoys him the most...what do you want to be when you grow up?

I love his answer! Watch this video and find out how he 'Hacks' his education.

#hackschooling

Since watching this video I've been thinking about my own education as it was when I was a teenager. I've realised how lucky I was to be encouraged to follow topics that were close to my heart then, and as an adult too by being able to go to art school. All the while though, I was still in the system, and now - 10 years on- oh such freedom to choose my own unique path!

I have a deep urge to refresh and deepen own my learning around certain topics. I'm not in a position to go back to University, and I'm not sure I'd want to anyway. I'm too busy being out in the world, creating my life. However, I'm curious and I LOVE learning. I realise that when I'm a bit stuck, bored, or lacking in inspiration, that using the motivation to change my mindset and circumstances by learning something new gives me a new lease of life. It's a reminder of why I do what I do and of whether I'm on the right path for me in that moment.

I'm aware that I could fall in to the learning trap here, using learning as a way of procrastinating, so all the while I'm bearing in mind whether the things I'm choosing to learn are genuinely moving me towards a stronger place in my life and my business.

The Latin root of the word Educate is Educare which means 'to draw out'. Since I first heard this definition it has delighted me, further captivating my desire to uncover that inner potential in myself and in others.

So I'd like to ask you...

What aspects of yourself would you like to draw out? What kind of person do you want to become?

Let's sit down and figure out what lights your fire by asking even more questions... I LIKE to get you thinking - hee hee! :)

What long held dream or aspect of yourself is sitting in the shadows waiting for some attention. How do you imagine yourself to be?

Who is that bright and vibrant person inside, however deeply buried?

What fascinated you when you were younger that you've since abandoned?

How would you like to express yourself now?

What topics would you like to talk knowledgeably about?

How do you identify with yourself right now?

How would you like to show up in the world?

What makes you happy?

How can you take care of your body, mind and spirit?

The answers to questions like these will begin to form the basis of what we want to learn and bring us untold excitement to get started, and ultimately stick to this path of educating, expressing and taking care of ourselves.

Thinking about identity and what you want to learn

Always move towards being the person you want to become... don't forget that this is an ever evolving process, so don't worry too much about there being vastly different ideas swirling around.

There will be a thread that weaves its way though it all. A 'why' that ties it all together. You might not be able to see the thread yet and that's ok.

Cultivate patience and trust.

I identify with myself as becoming a creative soul, an outdoor girl, a lover and protector of nature and our precious planet, an advocate of education and community, self development and self-awareness, an idealist and quiet action taker who wants peace and harmony in the world; a leader, a lover of quality and a creator of things.

The becoming of you

There might be gap between where you are now and where you want to be. Those gaps are probably where you think you're not 'enough' of those things already to really BE that person. Which is of course not true since we're all on this journey called life.

We can't possibly know everything there is to know all at once. Choosing to learn and change is how we build in more of the good stuff we want in life, move closer and closer to the type of person we want to be and how we impact the world. At each stage we are enough and worthy of giving ourselves that opportunity.

Resist the urge to stop yourself from growing and evolving, or from giving yourself the chance to show up as your most sparkling self. Take a step forward.

I LOVE learning!

I've said that already, right? It excites me so much and although it can be scary to step out of that comfort zone it usually always makes up for it in the mind blowing potential and sometimes downright confusion that it opens up in my life.

Yes even those funny head scratching moments can be a blessing in the end! Feel the stretch!

Do you have your list of possibilities?? Topics of curiosity? of happiness?

Look at that list and decide on a few of those topics to begin with that you would love to learn more about, either as a complete beginner, or as a way to deepen your knowledge on a subject.

Stuck? Feeling worried?

Please breathe and begin somewhere, follow your curiosity from there and see where you end up. It might be the best place that you have never even imagined!

Some of my own topics of curiosity are (in no particular order):

Conservation and promotion of green spaces

Urban nature

Biophilia/Nature connection

Wildlife and plant identification

Creative design of urban green spaces

Creating a sustainable future

Ecopsychology/Deep ecology

Personal development

Encouraging positive action in myself and others

Mindfulness/meditation/spirituality

Mental Health

Nature play and Outdoor education for all

Community

As well as exploring skills like:

Green woodworking

Basket weaving

Drawing and painting

Textile techniques

Bushcraft 

Growing my own food

Writing and poetry

Playing the fiddle

Language learning- Spanish in particular

Yoga practise

Creating art in nature

Exploring art and craft 

Experimenting with materials

...I could go on

As you can see it quite a long list and at the moment it's clearly focused around nature and the environment and my/our responses and relationship to it.

Remember, don't worry if your list has a broad range of topics...take this opportunity to explore and play with a few of the options. Whatever is pulling at your intuition and making you feel vibrant.

Right now some of the topics I'm immersing myself in are, learning about ecosystems with a FREE online course, attending local events around sustainability and the arts and reading, practising and developing courses around human- nature connection.

Also, I'm very excited to have been invited to attend and learn from the speakers at the 'Nature Connections 2015' conference at Derby University on the 26th March! I will be there representing Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Thank you RBGE!

And it just so happens to be on my birthday! It'll be lovely to be absorbing and discussing something so close to my heart on this day...and I might just treat myself to a nice meal the night before too :)

#NC2015 - please search for this # If you want to follow along with my updates from Nature Connections conference on Twitter on the 26th March.

Remember- It's not too late to learn! Go and become you! Go and grow your curious, creative, happy and healthy soul!

and...

Please share in the comments below... what have you been itching to learn but perhaps have been too scared? How would you love to show up in the world? What magic is sitting just under the surface waiting to be expressed?

Another wee reminder...

If you want to learn more about yourself, about your place and connection to nature, and about your own creativity, please check out my next online course Connect to Nature: Connect to Self. 4th April-2nd May 2015 

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Noticing roots, shoots and the flowing of water

This last weekend I visited my parents, at my childhood home- well same land, different house.

It's always necessary for me to go the woods while I'm home, to reconnect and notice. I took a morning walk down the water logged field to the woods, where last time I was home there was crisp and bright snow. The sun was shining brightly and I'd put way too many layers of clothes on.  Turns out if I'd gone out an hour or two later I would have needed all those layers, you have to be ready for the weather! Phew!

I could see in the distance that the winds over the winter had not been kind to the trees and I wandered closer to see the damage it had caused to the trees I'd played in and around as a child. The trees that had grown along with me.

There were 2 trees with big chunks snapped off at the side of the field, five or six trees uprooted and were now languishing on the ground in the section of woods directly below the croft and various others on their way to collapse come the next high winds. Root balls straining at the ground, leaning with persistent pressure on the resistant neighbouring trees.

Now, at first glance I may in the past have thought it totally devastating, that these few fallen trees as being a destruction of the woodland and for want of a better word a 'mess'. And it is sad, especially when woodlands are so precious. Of course it is never a good thing to take wreaking of our environment lightly, especially if it as the hands of humans. In this instance, I reminded myself not to be too disheartened or sad about it, because it's another part of the cycle.

I've been reminded of this recently when taking a course in Ecosystems. Dead wood is a vital part of the health of woodland ecosystem. It provides many positive benefits such as nutrients, plays a role in carbon storage and provides a huge array of micro habitats for things such as fungi , lichens, invertebrates, mosses and birds.

I looked down and noticed the slender and bright green leaves of bluebells were piercing from between the beech and oak leaf litter, and even continuing their growth from the ground that had been ripped from horizontal to vertical with the tree roots. All this stirring a sense of anticipation in me and memories of the spring where I went for a walk in these woods and almost stumbled over a fawn, huddled and slumbering deep amongst the bracken and bluebells, it's nose twitching with each breath. That is one of my most precious nature experiences.

I slipped and slithered through streams and squelching puddles, as the run off from the fields meandered and rushed its way to the bottom of the hill. I stopped and listened. I breathed the sunlight. The birds were singing and the movement and shimmer of the water trickled its negative ions, deeply seeping into my soul.

Being by streams and burns does something to me...it melts me. It always has had a calming effect in my life. From a young age I would sit and play for hours next to the burn that edged my parents croft. Hours of absorbing play, creating stories and worlds with this flow of water at the centre.

I often wonder about getting an heart monitor or other cool brain research monitor attached to me and seeing how much my heart rates slows or brain activity changes when I put myself beside water, when I dip my fingers in and feel it's cool soothing flow.

Nature and it's effects on our mind, body and spirit fascinates and inspires me and by immersing myself in it's wonder I find more creativity and strength in what I do and why I do it.

If a connection with nature, creativity or inner strength is something you feel you are missing in your life I'd love to invite you to take part in an upcoming course I'll be delivering- alongside Morwhenna- The Creative Adventurer , via your inbox but administered in nature. Find out more by clicking the button below...

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