I heard an interesting story the other day that really highlights the importance of being teachable and willing to relearn what you think are the basics of your subject.
It also emphasizes the importance of remembering that we can all always learn something new.
You probably already know that when you are learning and you find your mind opening in a way that you get really curious. Writing to you as someone who loves to learn. I'd just wanted you to learn that in this passage I'm going to cover two different but related topics and every one of which, I think you will find interesting and worthwhile for your own reasons.
In the story, you are going to discover a great life lesson. A lesson that can improve all other areas of your life. Especially if you want to get good at something you are now interested in learning.
Now, isn't it interesting how you can find your own reasons to get really excited about that? But as that's happening, I think you can agree that is the process of opening your mind to something really amazing.
Anyway, as you tag along with me, let me tell you the story.
Secret from China!
There was a group of monks from China that toured the USA showing the skills they have.
So John, An American, saw an opportunity to meet with a Shaolin warrior-monk.;
The monk was looking for a place to stay in the USA because he didn’t want to return to China.
At first John was extremely excited about the opportunity, because he had heard about the "Amazing Secrets” of the Shaolin.
John asked the translator, "Lee, please ask the monk, if I would let him stay in my house, would he teach me the secrets of the Shaolin?";
The translator spent a few minutes conversing with the monk and then told the John, "The Master wants to teach you how to throw a punch." as he points to Bruce’s smiling face.
"Lee, I know how to throw a punch. Please, ask him to teach me some of his advanced secrets.", John says while the translator could hear a little frustration in his voice.;
The translator spent more time conversing with the master and again replied , "Bruce says, yes, he would love to teach you how to punch." While Master Bruce has another big friendly smile on his face.
By now John’s very frustrated and you can hear it in his voice as he says, "Lee, I am a black belt for Pete’s sake. I have trained with you for years. You know I know how to throw a punch. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, to be able to learn the secrets of the Shaolin. Please, ask him to teach me the secrets. NOT THE BASICS, The SECRET STUFF MAN!"
The translator again spoke with the monk, and this time the master, still smiling, Seeing that John’s negative emotions escalated.
Somehow Bruce noticed that John’s frustrated and now also defensive, he told the translator something and then the translator said, “Bruce would like to see your punch.” While Bruce stays friendly.
“Okay let’s just get it over with”, John says, rather frustrated by the process. It’s taking so long.
The monk lit a candle and asked for a full force punch directly at the flame, but to stop one inch away.
John threw a powerful punch and stopped exactly one inch away from the flame. "See," he cried frustrated, "I have thrown a perfect punch. Ask the monk to teach me a secret."
The translator spoke with the monk and then he turned and said, "The master is very impressed with your punch. He says it is very good and very powerful. He would now like to show you his punch." So, the monk got up and threw his punch. Instead of stopping an inch away, he stopped a foot and a half away. But, something amazing happened; the candle flame went out.
That's the one!
The student was stunned! How could the monk have put out the flame from more than a foot away? "Please," he implored, "that is what I have been asking for. I want to learn that."
A Punch or A Punch?
The translator spoke to the monk and translated, "That is what he has been saying. He wants to teach you how to throw a PUNCH. While you were thinking about a punch."
Moral: You don't know what you don't know. So have some patience with others that you don’t understand yet. Seek first to understand before you seek to be understood!