28 September 2012

The Benefits of Acquiring a New Skill

This post is written by contributing author Anabel Bouza. 

As someone who has spent some time on this earth, you can probably attest to having gained specialization in the things you do often and repeatedly. You have become proficient at these things, and even mastered some. Yet, with repetition comes routine, and its desensitizing effect. 


We all have our own ways of seeking renewal: a vacation, a home remodeling project, a health regime, or — my personal favorite — learning a new skill. Learning something new changes who you are, how you see yourself.

There is something rare and wonderful about the process of conquering a new motion and mindset. It allows you to be vulnerable; it creates a situation where it is okay to expose your ignorance, to be candid about it and ask questions freely, with the unblushing curiosity of being new to everything.


As adults, we can overlook the importance of exposing our skill set to new challenges. It puts us at risk of forgetting the humbling jolt of experiencing this disconnect between our hand and our head (just try to recall how awkward the pencil felt when you first tried to loop letter shapes, or your fingers' numbness when you were learning to tie your shoes!)

On the other hand, carving time from our schedule to willingly expose ourselves to frustration doesn't sound very appetizing. Much easier said than done! I find that to keep this kind of frustration under control, it is helpful to visualize the skills you already have, as if collected in a tool belt, one you don't even have to look at because you know exactly where every tool is. 

Isn't it encouraging to think that these "tools" were arcane puzzles once, and it was you who conquered them?



Acquiring a new skill is rewarding in itself, it can fortify and complement your other skills. It is known to sharpen the mind by establishing new connections within the brain. In addition, having your outlook whisked by a new experience provides fertile new grounds for the creative mind. 

Are you considering taking up any new skills, or going back to perfect something you half-learned in the past?

All illustrations by Anabel Bouza.


Anabel Bouza insists there's powerful magic in the action of creating something out of a vague vision, a chill of inspiration. She is an illustrator with a passion for nature, paper manipulation, and pointing her camera at things.

Her appreciation for simplicity dates back to a former life in Cuba - her strange homeland - where she refined the ability to see the alternative uses of common objects, and the enchanting side of things. She's often found blogging as
Weird Amiga, hard at work in her sunny studio, or staring at things as if looking at them for the first time. Her tiny family is comprised of her husband & a turtle; they're new to the city of Chicago, and they love it. Connect to Anabel via facebook and twitter.


6 comments:

  1. I love trying out new skills and renewing old ones. I used to needlepoint and I just purchased a vintage kit to take it up again.

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    1. You're retaking needlepoint in style, I see. :) Imagine the life that vintage kit has already had, and the skilled hands that have had access to it...!

      Good luck!

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  2. I love trying new things and learning new skills. I have a bit of a voracious appetite for challenging my resourcefulness! I've recently (one year now) been learning vintage dances and it. is. so. fun!
    -Jamie
    New TeamEcoEtsy Member
    http://chatterblossom.blogspot.com/

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  3. I believe learning new skills is an important part of life. I am always looking for new things to learn daily, and perfecting the skills I have often.
    Valerie
    Everyday Inspired

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  4. Fantastic post, Anabel! I agree wholeheartedly that learning new skills sparks creativity and is good for the soul too. I'd love to find time to crochet or knit something this fall. I've done a bit of both in the past, but it's been so long I'll probably need to reteach myself some skills.

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    1. For some reason, I only feel the urge to knit during the Fall, so every year I have to re-learn it a little bit, to "warm up" after so many months without doing it.

      Regardless of how passive my method is, I end up improving, and learning it without rush, in the background, allows me to stay focused on all the other things I have going at the time...

      Thank you for coming by!

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