Getting a job for life in a stable industry used to be an empowering career goal, but in this world of rapid change and transformation, that is no longer the case. As new industries emerge and older ones go into decline, it’s a fact that most of us will change careers or shift direction at least once in our lives.

Recent events have shown us that we can’t know what the future holds or what fresh opportunities exist ahead. 

But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless to navigate the ever-evolving playing field. 

Thanks to an abundance of books, courses, and content, we do have the ability to pivot. In this information age where knowledge is so readily accessible, we can learn just about anything! You can develop new skills, explore new interests, and choose to explore a new direction entirely. 

That’s the power of self-education habits… they provide the key to virtually anything you want. It’s as Jim Rohn said, “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” 

But how do you cultivate a lifestyle of self-education so you can be your best self and make the most of the opportunities that come your way? 

Keep reading to discover SEVEN powerful self-education habits that can help you unlock your potential so you can create the life you want. 

1. Read

You’ve no doubt heard about the power of working with the right mentors. Well, books can be mentors too. What’s more, they’re a super affordable alternative to working directly with world-class thinkers and leaders - both dead and alive.

That’s because books allow you to step into the shoes of the people you want to learn from - in virtually any field or discipline you can imagine. 

Through the pages of a book, you can get a grasp of who someone is and how they think. In turn, books can transform what you know and how you think for a low-ticket pricetag. They can shift your perspective, open your mind to fresh ways of being, and inspire you to take action in a direction that you previously didn’t know existed. 

2. Become a note-taker

The human brain is notoriously bad at remembering things. More importantly, trying to remember stuff is not the best use of your brain’s talents. Your mind is a problem-solving, creative machine and the more headspace you free up for those activities, the more your best self can evolve. 

Your brain has around 70,000 thoughts per day - a lot of them are low-level and repetitive. Writing things down into an ‘external brain’ like your notebook frees up the headspace you need to focus elsewhere. 

This is one of the reasons why successful people take notes. They know that note-taking is a self-education habit that will help them become more creative and successful. Through the power of note-taking, you can crystalize what you’re thinking into a more tangible form. To paraphrase Jim Rohn, you’re only ever one idea away from completely changing your life. Why would you risk forgetting [or overlooking] the very idea that can unlock new doors? 

3. Journal

Your real value is not in what you do… it’s in WHO YOU ARE. 

You are the creative canvas upon which your life unfolds. The more you can eliminate your fears, understand yourself, and work through the challenges that keep you from your best self, the more you can be. 

Journaling is one of the best practices I know for unlocking the truth of who you are. 

Through journaling, you can increase your self-awareness by getting introspective and reflective. 

Through journaling, you can get clearer on the paths you want to walk and discern between the decisions that are right for you - and the ones that aren’t. 

Discover how journaling can help you to write your best self in this podcast episode. 

4. Ask better questions

The quality of the questions you ask yourself [and others] will influence the quality of your life. Period. 

Here’s why…

Questions are like searchlights. When you ask a question, your mind is compelled to answer. What’s more, your brain looks for the answer in a single-minded way. It considers nothing else but the answer you want. 

If you keep asking the same questions, you’ll keep getting the same results. 

If you ask different questions, your life can open up in beautiful new ways, 

Ready to put this concept into practice for yourself? If so, download the free Edison PDF. Use it to challenge your brain and see what fresh ideas your imagination can conjure up.  

5. Find your favorite podcast

How can you make the best use of your in-between times? For example, your commute to work, while prepping lunch, over the ironing, or when you're cleaning the kitchen? 

As well as getting the task at hand done, you can invest in your self-education journey by listening to a podcast [or an audio book]. 

As a self-education habit, podcasts allow you to learn something new or be a fly on the wall in thought-provoking, game-changing conversations. You can take away fresh ideas or perspectives in an entertaining, easy to digest way. 

There are podcasts for just about anything you can imagine. All you have to do is pick a subject that interests you, find a host you connect with, and get listening! 

Here are a couple of places to start: 

1. Journaling - The Writing Your Best Self Podcast
2. Developing courage and confidence - The Courage Over Comfort Podcast

6. Engage in deeper conversations

There’s a Chinese proverb that says, "A single conversation across the table with a wise person is worth a month's study of books."

It’s true! Amazing things can happen when you really talk. 

As well as being fun, conversations strengthen your relationships, help you solve problems, inspire fresh ideas, enhance your self-awareness, and even get plans into action! In other words, investing in deeper talk is a simple way to enhance your life. 

Deeper conversation as a self-education habit gives you access to the knowledge available when you explore a deeper life. A deeper life is a life lived below the superficial, surface layers. It’s a place of vulnerability, soul-deep enquiry, and a commitment to uncovering the wisdom and insight that helps you live your most meaningful life. 

With the help of more in-depth conversations, you can move through small talk and get to learn more from the person in front of you. You get to ask the questions that piece to the core of a subject and in doing so, you can extract life-enhancing knowledge. 

 

 

7. Adopt a growth mindset

In the words of Henry Ford, “whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” 

What you believe about yourself and the world has a disproportionate impact on how you show up and create in the world. Remember how questions direct your brain to find a specific answer? If you ask yourself why you can’t do something [or why a goal is out of the question for you], you will find plenty of answers to keep you small. 

In comparison, ask yourself why you CAN do something, and you’ll find answers to that question too. 

It’s up to you which path you want to take through life, and adopting a growth mindset can be a powerful self-improvement habit. Someone with a growth mindset believes you can learn talents and skills. In comparison, someone with a fixed mindset believes you’re born with ability, and you can’t nurture anymore. 

Recent thinking in neuroplasticity has found that the human brain is a lot more malleable than we previously thought. 

Discover more about the difference between fixed and growth mindsets here.  

Self-educate your way to your best self

Abraham Maslow said, ‘You will either step forward into growth or you will step backward into safety.” 

There’s so much out there to experience, explore, and discover. You have the opportunity to create your own self-education curriculum and take yourself in whatever direction your heart and curiosity calls you. 

Your best self is a unique definition. 

And with a commitment to self-education habits, you really can unleash your full potential and create the life you came here to live.