I love learning new things. It’s almost an addiction with me.
Well…my friends might say it IS an addiction!
Learning new things is just…well…cool! It opens your mind to possibilities you hadn’t considered before. You not only learn the new thing, but you learn something about yourself and what you are capable of.
Let’s explore some reasons why learning is not only cool, but good for you, and crucial to staying mentally fit.
1. Neural Pathways
When you learn something new, your brain literally rewires itself by building new neural pathways.
2. Dopamine
Learning something new releases the feel-good hormone Dopamine.
3. Myelin
Practicing a new skill with careful repetition increases the density of myelin in the brain, which strengthens connections and helps neurons move faster.
One of my favorite quotes about practice:
Pablo Casals, the famous Spanish cellist who lived to be 97 years of age, when he reached 95, a young reporter threw him a question: “Mr. Casals, you are 95 and the greatest cellist that ever lived. Why do you still practice six hours a day?” And Mr. Casals answered, “Because I think I’m making progress.”
Pablo Casals
