According to the dictionary, unlearning is a transitive verb that means to put out of one's knowledge or intending to let go of whatever learned or acquired. It is not about right or wrong. It is about being open to and exploring something that lies underneath the judgment, underneath the right and the wrong. The world is changing more rapidly than ever, making it increasingly important for us to adapt if we want to remain relevant. While learning is important if we want to keep up, unlearning is what really enables us to adapt and remain relevant.
The most important forms of growth we can undertake is unlearning. All the learning we do, in a sense, involves unlearning. The more we can unlearn, the more we are likely to experience the sense of growth and progress we so desire. Letting go is unlearning.
For example, we may believe someone else is responsible for our unhappiness; therefore, we believe this other person must change. Often when we are unhappy, we become obsessed with changing the other individual who we believe is responsible for our condition. When you unlearn a feeling of insecurity or anger, you will no longer have that negative reaction each time you see that person. That person actually hasn't changed - only change of your perception towards the other person has made you happy.
Our life experiences lead us to certain conclusions and we use this learning to navigate our present. But as we grow in age and capability, many of these learnings have outlived the purpose they served at one time and in fact may be limiting for us. The coping or thriving strategies learned in the past could be counterproductive today. Just as the cup has to be emptied before it can be filled, we need to unlearn some of our more deep-rooted learnings in order to make room for more empowering possibilities.
When we discover a belief that originates from some outside condition and if we let it go - our whole world shifts. We should constantly examine our own learning and consciously re-evaluate which ones we would be better off without. If we can unlearn the incessant thought - the inner narrative voices - our critical analysis, judgments and comments on every thing we see and do from morning until night.
Imagine how much more productive our life would be if we could unlearn many of the beliefs and behaviours that causes us stress. So unlearning is exactly what it says.
The essence is about 'emptying' and not about 'emptying so that we can fill it up'. Yet all the education since our birth is all about how to do the new, not how to undo the old. It's not learning that is the challenge, it's our inability to unlearn that's holding many of us back. Discovering and releasing these inhibitors opens doorways to new possibilities and can be a transformative experience. Our efforts to unlearn help us grow and bloom into flower of joy. The process of unlearning is about liberation or freedom from the conditioning or from the known. Unlearning can expand our openness; make our mind steady and calm. Let there be quiet. Find freedom within your own head.
The writer is a medical astrologer. Mail her at selfdecoder@gmail.com
