The root word of education is educare, which means “to rear.” When we rear our inner child, we educate ourselves: we raise up our young, immature, selfish self and we use knowledge and experience to become stronger, more aware, and more able to share.

I encourage you to develop a Lifelong Learning Plan. These may be a series of subjects that you’ve always had an interest in (and always will!) and which give you great pleasure to study. For example, for me, I’m always interested in language, because to my mind, language is a way to foster communication between different cultures. So, I’ve studied French, Spanish, Tagalog, and Arabic. One of my favorite memories with language is visiting a waterfall in Morocco and having a long conversation in French with one traveller, then turning around and having a second conversation in Spanish with another traveller. What is on your list of subjects near and dear to you heart for your Lifelong Learning Plan?

Keep these subjects on a list that you post prominently. These are the subjects that you will take some time each day, week, month, and quarter to pay attention to. Once you have a subject (or multiple subjects) in mind, it’s time to develop your educational plan. This might involve buying a subscription for a magazine that focuses on one of those subjects (Organic Gardening is my magazine for my interest in plants and flowers). It might involve visiting the library for books and tapes on another subject, joining a society or class that focuses on the subject, or visiting a website or online bulletin board where enthusiasts and professionals discuss the newest trends in that subject.

You might have to get over some self-consciousness about your interests. So what if you never win a Nobel Prize or become a world-recognized expert in the field you’re studying? Some people do become experts because of their love for the subject matter, so in your case, follow your interest and excitement as far as it takes you. Your interest in something is a way for your intellect and your inner self to grow and to learn: feeding your mind gives you much to think about and you’ll enjoy the process of learning.

With your Lifelong Learning Plan in place, you also have a map of sorts to guide you in the direction you want to go for your work, your hobbies, your friendships, and your skill development. Who know what gifts await you? I know you’ll enjoy your lifelong learning. Make sure to share some of your knowledge along the way!!

More links:
Raise your Consciousness

Intention Creates Reality

Match your Exterior World to your Interior World

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