James 1:22-25 (NKJV)
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
Most people are educated way beyond their level of effectiveness. They know a lot but do very little. Our level of effectiveness is not about knowing more… it’s about doing more. Famous motivational speaker and author Jim Rohn said, “Don’t let your learning lead to knowledge. Let your learning lead to action.” The goal of education is transformation. When we take what we learn and live it out, our future transforms for the better. Many people have consumed a vast amount of resources but have nothing to show for it. Don’t let this be your experience. Make sure your learning is leading to action.
Most people that have been Christians for more than a few years have heard hundreds of messages, but not all seem to be better from them. They take in great resources every week through sermons, podcasts, talks, Bible studies, etc… but are not being transformed.
So, what are you going to do it live out what you learn about? Here are 3 tips that I use that have helped me put things into practice…
1) Write It Down
There is an old saying, “It’s not real until it’s written.” I think our learning operates from a similar pattern. There is something powerful and memorable about untangling your thoughts by writing them down. I have a notebook for each of the books I read through. As I read my chosen book for the day, I underline things that stick out to me and then transfer those markings into my growth notebook. This system allows me to catalog the best ideas meaningful to me during my reading time.
However you want to do it, make sure you are writing down the things you are learning about. Many people will journal their ideas or write down a summary of what they just learned about. Whatever you do, make sure there is a transfer from reading/listening/watching whatever resource you are taking in to the written form.
2) Challenge Yourself
If you don’t challenge yourself to do something with what you’re learning about, you’ll likely forget it. Turn your learning into something you challenge yourself to act on. Again, it’s not just about knowledge; it’s about action. So, at the end of your learning moment, ask yourself, “What will I do with what I just learned?” This question forces you to devise a creative way to practice something new. You may need to implement a new mindset, a new productivity tip, a new process, or a new perspective. Make sure that you change something in your behavior from what you learned.
3) Share It With Others
Our learning can’t just be for us, especially as Christians. We must ensure we are passing on great ideas that will help others. Not only will you potentially impact someone else, but sharing what you’re learning about it will help you retain it. In fact, cognitive studies have shown that teaching others gives us a 90% retention rate. It’s the highest form of learning we can utilize.
The more you share what you are learning, the better you can process and understand it. It forces you to wrap your mind around the concept whenever you can communicate it. As followers of Christ, we must develop those around us and share great resources and ideas to expedite the process.
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