One of the biggest struggles I face on my learning journey is that of pride.
I find myself in a constant battle with the side of me that sees me know it all. I want to think I know everything, and so when I find something new or contradictory to what I am working on; my immediate reaction is to shy away from it. However, that does not lead to growth; it leads to stagnation and even denigration as the ideas that I'm working off eventually fall apart or don't apply.
It's been a very tough battle, and in the culture of my peers around me, it's seen as cool and hip not to follow authority or wisdom. There seems always to be some new way of doing things that negates the need for wisdom. So I have to cut against the grain of my culture, as well as my instincts to move ahead. I've found that the sooner I admit that I am not the smartest guy in the world, the sooner I make progress.
Plus, people have a hard time saying ill about you, as you can freely admit that you don't know. No one will call you an idiot when you say that you don't understand something, and if they do, they look like a jerk.
I've also noticed that when I stop acting like I know everything, I also start to see more people genuinely interested in sharing their ideas and giving me advice.
Key takeaways:
1) Overcome pride to learn new things
2) You have to fight your instincts
3) People can't say you're dumb if you do first
4) You become a teachable person when you put down your pride