As learners, we’re big-time “yearners”. Okay, so it might sound a bit cliché, but just think about it for a minute. We yearn for knowledge—consuming information like vacuums. We yearn for understanding—searching for the cause that has the effect that promotes a successful outcome. We yearn for contact with inspirational people, places, and things—seeking the empowering stuff that chisels, carves, and sculpts our identity. We yearn for motivation—on a mission to discover the fuel that ignites our fire…and keeps it burning hot. And we may not realize it, but we even yearn for change; although we may fear the unknown, we instinctively sense that newness—not sameness—is what ultimately helps us to become the best version of ourselves.

In our work, in our play, in our sleep, and in our dreams, we’re silently yearning to stop listening to who the world tells us to be…and learning how to become who we’re meant to be.

Our “yearn to learn” is the heart and soul of our progress. In many respects, it’s what drives us to take the necessary risks, break the arbitrary rules, and “make ourselves”. Our desire to learn is what replaces “no way” with “okay”…the blahhh factor with the yeahhh factor…and “I can’t” with “I can”. Our desire to learn helps us to forgo the fiction, delete the dysfunction, and ignore the irrelevant stuff that clutters our head, our heart, and our soul. No doubt, our desire to learn is what leads us to our true path…and inspires us to take it.

Yep—there’s a yearning, burning, learning fire inside of us: It’s called evolution.

As “evolvers”, we have an implicit obligation to never—ever—stop learning. Being in a constant state of evolution means remaining open to the infinite possibilities. It means developing the resilience to face adversity and embrace change. It means analyzing, rationalizing, and strategizing our way toward a more efficient way of thinking, feeling, and doing. It means not wasting energy by using excuses or complaining about our problems, but, instead, focusing on opportunities to use that energy to generate viable solutions. Oh, and it means daring to fail…because we know that failure isn’t the opposite of success: It’s a critical part of success.

We may not realize it, but it’s true: When we yearn to learn, we resolve to evolve. But what does this really mean? Well, it means that, just when you think it’s over…just when you feel that you’ve given it all that you’ve got…just when you’re ready to throw in the towel…just when you believe that the end has come, you still believe in YOU:

The rule breaker. The game changer. The difference maker.

Seek opportunities that challenge your mindset. Explore what lights your creative soul on fire. And listen to your heart—there’s a good chance that it will detour from your current path toward the exciting new adventures that await you on your true path.

Retire sameness. Desire newness.

When you do, you’ll feel priceless.

About the Author: Joshua GARRIN is one of Your Monthly Mentors, an Award-Winning Health Psychologist, Author of “The I-Way to Well”, Personal Trainer, Health Coach, and Self-Motivationalist. He holds a Ph.D. in health psychology, an M.S. in cognitive psychology, and a B.S. in general psychology and journalism and currently resides in the Hudson Valley region of New York. Following the completion of his doctorate in 2014, Joshua was the recipient of Walden University’s Harold L. Hodgkinson Award for Outstanding Dissertation Research for his inquiry on health beliefs, outcome expectancies, and stress appraisal in college seniors. Read More… 

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