Self Education - Becoming an Autodidact

Self education refers to self directed learning. The knowledge you have gathered and learned in schools is insufficient for you to handle your adult life or make major changes to your financial progress and personal growth.

Almost everyone goes through the same conventional learning process but many people who stood out from the majority are autodidacts. They went through self study and self organized learning.

Life itself is like a school but it does not provide any learning instruction. It presents to you people and situations for you to form your own understanding according to your beliefs. Many times, it's like a laboratory where you experiment and make many trials and errors before you finally find the solution. If you pay attention, observe and contemplate, you speed up your self learning process.

Self education is a continuous learning process and you have to learn, unlearn and relearn to get things right.

"Formal education will make you a living; self education will make you a fortune." - Jim Rohn

How to Continue with Your Self Education

Engage with others.

Other people are your teachers. Even children can teach you something of value. You learn by observing the outward behaviors, listening to their words and watching the actions that they take. You can then scan through the information, reflect on them and apply on yourself.

Engaging with others also allow you to see who you are or what you have within you because you tend to attract people who are similar. If you don't like something in the person, you most likely are having the same pattern.

Remain curious and ask lots of questions.

You can learn a lot more by being curious and asking questions. Asking yourself and others questions is a great way to understand. The answers you obtain can overcome your state of confusion and indecision.

You will also benefit because other people's opinions can shift your thoughts about something that you have subconsciously accepted without questioning their validity.

Engage in reading.

You should continue to read even after you leave school. Reading broadens your horizon, expands your knowledge and shifts your thinking patterns. Changing your thinking brings changes to your life.

You see your world based on your beliefs and perceptions. If you expect something better to happen in your life, you should engage yourself in reading and learning something of value every day. They provide ideas that to help you overcome obstacles and solve your problems.

Don't allow your lack of vocabulary or word knowledge to deter you from reading. Increase your vocabulary using the Visual Thesaurus.

Take more actions.

When you act upon your knowledge, you get results. Whatever you do continuously becomes a habit and you develop the skills. Every little thing you do teaches you something and moves you toward your goals.

You might not succeed the first time you try something and you might get frustrated if you keep making mistakes. But these errors are feedbacks. If you study them and take advantage of them, you will get your expected result or something better than that.

Learning from the experts.

Many self taught people who have excelled have written about their accomplishments. If they didn't, you can read their biographies. You can get hold of their knowledge and experiences that are available at the library, bookstores and websites. There are also audio and video programs available.

Click here for a list of self help books and programs

Become your own teacher.

You are your best friend and your best teacher. Become your own observer of your thoughts, emotions and actions. You will make mistakes. This is a part of self education. But they are invaluable lessons.

Once you have made a conviction to become self-taught, you don't have to worry much about sticking to the disciplines in your self regulated learning process. Your desire to achieve your goal will drive you to learn and take the necessary action steps.

Becoming an autodidact is one of the best experiences in life. It gives a profound personal satisfaction. And you will improve your self confidence and your self esteem.