Last summer, for our wedding anniversary, I bought my wife and I dance lessons from Arthur Murray. Very early in the process, the studio owner and our instructor both emphasized the following:
1. The Initial Learning Stage
The student is introduced to the skill or step.
2. The Awkward Use Stage
The student has an increased awareness, but feels awkward and frequently experiences difficulty.
3. The Conscious Use Stage
The student is able to do the skill or step more effectively and easily; however, even though the task may look good, it must still be thought through when performed.
4. The Natural Use Stage
This skill or step is done with ease and is spontaneous, comfortable and creative. This level is reached only after a period of time in which the student has continued to use and practice the skill. Every time you learn something new, your body will always go through the Stages of Learning. It is natural for you to progress through these stages.
As an adult, I rarely try to do things I’m no good at. At work, I do things I’ve done for decades. Same for my hobbies.
Trying something new means being embarrassingly bad at it.
That was awkward and difficult to work through.
The plan was to do the lessons for a few months, but we’ve done them for over a year now, mainly concentrating on learning moves for the hustle and the rhumba, though we have done many other dances as part of the group lessons (the bachata, the meringue, the foxtrot, swing, etc.).
Find something you’re bad at, and stick with it.
Photo by Will McCulloch on Unsplash.
