How to Keep Learning, Growing, and Moving Forward

There are moments in life that just happen. When we’re young, we can learn a second language effortlessly. As adults, sometimes we feel inspired and suddenly tap into our creativity. We want to believe that all it takes to achieve important things is willpower. We think, if only we tried hard enough. We push ourselves to get things done through sheer hard work, but eventually we relapse into our old ways. Making progress is anything but linear, and to sustain it, we need a better approach. We must go beyond inspiration, willpower, and hard work.

Life is full of challenges. Whether it’s learning a new skill, starting a business, losing weight, achieving financial stability, asking someone out, or communicating your ideas, there’s always something new to learn or do better. But that’s only the beginning. Sustaining the learning is more challenging, seeing things through, and enduring the inevitable pain that comes with personal growth. Perhaps even more challenging is solving difficult problems—like resolving relationship issues or getting unstuck from a rut. Eventually, you recognize it isn’t just about feeling inspired or relying solely on willpower and hard work.

So here’s where it gets interesting. Why do we believe that all it takes is willpower? Why is inspiration so fleeting? And why isn’t hard work enough? We need to find better, more intrinsic, compelling, and sustainable sources of action. Let’s take a look at them:

A) Finding Purpose

Purpose. It’s nothing new, but it’s often overlooked. Every great human feat has started with a deep sense of purpose. Purpose is at the intersection of selfish and selfless. You need to find where your interests, skills, and passions intersect with a definite contribution so that you become clear about your impact. That becomes your purpose, your why.

Purpose stems from our ability to align our deepest values and beliefs and to serve others through our work or creations. When we’re clear about our values and are able to connect them with others, we feel that we’re contributing to something bigger than ourselves. Having purpose not only guides us but also motivates us to keep going when things get tough. It’ll fuel you longer than raw willpower.

B) Developing Strategic Thinking

Strategy is how we can go farther with less effort. It’s not a substitute for hard work, but rather what makes our hard work count. Ask yourself: Are there improved materials or a better method for my work? Are there any tools I could use to improve my process? Is there any knowledge, like best practices, that can help me avoid some beginner or advanced mistakes?

When you strategize, consider everything about how you approach your work. Consider: the materials, methods, tools, knowledge, coaching, teamwork, metrics, environment, machines, leverage points, etc. Strategy is about preparation and developing a plan of action to take you from where you are to where you want to go. Stay flexible and revise your strategies as you go.

C) Embracing Playfulness

To keep learning, growing, and moving forward, we need to have fun. While willpower can be draining, play can be energizing. Play helps us be more persistent, tap into flow, and enjoy the process. We know that the absence of play leads to burnout, and yet, most managers ignore this.

Working on something or with someone that’s consistently demanding and boring will cause burn out. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t have more fun at work. Ultimately, I think we would all work harder, produce higher quality work, and remain committed for longer.

D) Reframing Perspectives

Framing is a psychological concept about how we react to positive or negative outcomes depending on how we frame them. When we effectively frame a situation, it can help us respond better. When we do anything that involves risks like being vulnerable, potential harm, or financial/time loss, we might feel discouraged or paralyzed.

Framing is about our ability to think about situations in an empowering way. It helps us view past events as learning experiences rather than defeats. You can frame something with scarcity or abundance, and with difficulty or as a challenge. You can think about performing a difficult task alone or feeling supported. To keep growing despite hardships, we must tap into this power of framing.

E) Managing Risks

When we talk about taking risks, we talk about potential upside and downside. Risk management is simply making sure you limit your potential downside and leave yourself open to potential opportunities. Avoid taking risks on anything that could potentially have high severity and position yourself in ways that you can gain from the upside. If you manage the downside, the upside will take care of itself.

F) Practicing Acceptance

There will be highs and there will be lows. I like to think of acceptance as being able to let go of my need to control the outcomes. I can control how purposeful, strategic, playful, and mindful I am, but not the results I get. Acceptance is about freeing up psychological real estate so that we can focus on what matters.

Acceptance is also about our feelings. We can’t force ourselves to be always happy, joyful, and determined. If we allow ourselves (temporarily) to feel the lows, then we can quickly bounce back. Try to avoid big emotional swings by accepting that it’s okay to feel bummed sometimes. Acceptance of ourselves and our work is far more effective than inspiration because it commits us to continuous improvement. We let go of the outcomes so that we can focus on the process.

G) Cultivating Compassion

Suffering is universal. We all feel pain and are subject to both the hardships and the wonders of life. But we tend to forget this. Compassion is being mindful of this simple truth. We are more likely to get out of our comfort zones, work, volunteer, be of service, and do the difficult things if we remind ourselves that we are all human, living in this temporary place. Compassion, much like purpose, can help us cope with the painful lessons that lead us to grow.

But it’s not just about coping—compassion builds character, resilience, and strength, as we establish a deep sense of connection with others. It also helps us develop these human qualities in our lives. Self-compassion reminds us that we’re a human-in-progress, not a finished work.

H) Fostering Gratitude

To overcome personal challenges, we must embrace gratitude. It’s easy to get stuck when we focus too much on ourselves. Gratitude helps us shift away from selfishness. Think about what you’re grateful for and how you’ve been helped. Like framing, gratitude helps you to see how fortunate you really are. Not all effort is created equal, and not everyone has the same privileges. Nevertheless, we can all find many ways to be more grateful for life and others.

I) Embracing Humility

Humility is often ignored as we think of it as a sign of weakness. But humility is often an unrecognized source of strength. Many of life’s misfortunes come as a result of over-confidence, entitlement, and arrogance. Any meaningful, long-term vision worth pursuing requires us to stay humble. Being humble with ourselves, our work, and towards others improves relationships and makes us resourceful. As opposed to an inflated ego with no room for mistakes, humility allows us to acknowledge both our strengths and weaknesses.

Embracing humility opens up a window to courage and wisdom since we’re not afraid to be wrong. It transforms us into growth-minded individuals who are willing to learn from mistakes and face setbacks constructively.

So it’s okay to embrace inspiration as it can often spark the seeds of great work. And believing in your willpower and hard work is definitely an asset to cultivate. However, we need to go beyond them if we want healthier, more sustainable tools for our journey. Let your purpose guide you through challenges. Become a better strategist to make enduring progress. Have fun to boost your creativity and persistence. Be psychologically insightful to stay positive. Be mindful of the risks to move forward with confidence. Embrace acceptance, compassion, gratitude, and humility to tap into the strengths of being human. With these elements in your toolbox, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the obstacles in a lifelong journey of learning, growing, and moving forward.