#42: HOW TO BE OBSESSED WITH KNOWLEDGE

Back then, before I become really passionate about learning, I used to be astonished by how people put in so much time into reading or learning things that they aren't in any way going to be tested or examined on. 

Quite okay, I don't flunk my tests. I do study hard for that, however, not because I enjoy doing it. But for the sake of getting a nice grade. (Who wants an F anyway? Definitely not me.)

 

Thus, my learning process was limited to only school related stuff. Whenever it came to learning beyond this narrow scope, it was a turn off. I wasn't just interested. Forcing myself to do it was somewhat a death sentence.

Perhaps you're surprised by how some people out there are so so obsessed with learning. To you, they are boring, and, uh, just BORING. 

You might want to join them in this learning spree quite all right but when you think of doing it, you just slack off and say “No, I can't do it. It's way too boring.”

Well, not everyone can. But since you're reading this, I want to believe that you can. 

SO WHAT'S THE SECRET?

Personally, I love books. I also love anything that's worth learning from. Talking about books; I've read so much books in the past two years that I've lost count of.

I've also watched lots and lots of documentaries. I even watched one today. Oh! I didn't tell you about podcasts and other interesting learning materials as well. 

I'm on a learning spree. I try to learn nearly all the time.

For the past nine months, I've been reading for 4-5 hours almost everyday. Just imagine how much I've gained so far? A lot right? I wouldn't bore you with the details anyway. 

This might sound like a boring routine. But to me, an enthusiastic knowledge seeker, it's pretty much fun. Yes, fun with the capital letters F U N. 

You see, the depth of the vast ocean of knowledge is indeed unimaginable. That's to say I'm unaware of many things. And if I'm unaware, that means there's a void that needs to be filled in my understanding as a whole.

So this unsettledness that comes with not knowing pushes me towards finding answers and bridging the gap in my understanding so as to, in turn, become less uninformed. 

Inherent curiousity, my friend, is the key to becoming highly interested in seeking knowledge. 

Once you're curious, you'll find yourself in this never-ending circle of trying to learn. And gradually, you'd come to appreciate it. 

 

Isn't that amazing? 

Now, wouldn't you be happy, probably with a grin on your face if you're so knowledgeable?

Sure, you will. 

Thus, find yourself something interesting to learn. Gradually, you'll become more curious about it. And once you do, don't hesitate to keep quenching the thirst of your curiosity.