Being “Dumb” to Improve

At my age, learning again feels very difficult, whether I learn by myself or from other people. Sometimes, after realizing how many basic things I still do not fully understand, I notice that I tend to reject information too quickly, regardless of whether it is right or wrong. Interestingly, some valuable lessons even come from younger people, while older people are not always the only source of wisdom or experience. That realization slowly changed the way I see learning.

Because of that, I started using a personal learning approach that I call “being dumb.” For me, being dumb does not mean lacking intelligence, but being willing to lower my ego and stay open to learning. When we act like we already know everything, it becomes harder to grow. Meanwhile, staying curious helps us continue learning from simple conversations, experiences, and even mistakes. Honestly, reading books at my age sometimes requires a very high level of concentration, so learning directly from people and real situations often feels more practical and easier for me to understand.