Comments on: Being a perpetual student http://www.svahaconcepts.com/blog/the-internal-message/being-a-perpetual-student Content that Connects Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:12:02 +0000 hourly 1 By: Grace http://www.svahaconcepts.com/blog/the-internal-message/being-a-perpetual-student/comment-page-1#comment-4360 Grace Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:57:50 +0000 http://www.svahaconcepts.com/blog/?p=2331#comment-4360 <b>Alistair</b> - Yes, indeed, the waiting for perfection syndrome is similar to the perpetual student syndrome. And there are others, all of which are expressions of that nagging sense of uncertainty and fear. But the thing is (and this will be, I suspect, the topic of my next newsletter article), when we wait for perfection, or for that final piece of knowledge, or even for fear to go away - we'll wait forever. That "perfect moment" is almost always recognized in hindsight rather than in the moment. Actually, I'd say it's just about <em>always</em> recognized in hindsight. And I particularly like your last point. Yes. No matter what happens, you'll generally learn more by taking action than by waiting! Alistair – Yes, indeed, the waiting for perfection syndrome is similar to the perpetual student syndrome. And there are others, all of which are expressions of that nagging sense of uncertainty and fear.

But the thing is (and this will be, I suspect, the topic of my next newsletter article), when we wait for perfection, or for that final piece of knowledge, or even for fear to go away – we’ll wait forever.

That “perfect moment” is almost always recognized in hindsight rather than in the moment. Actually, I’d say it’s just about always recognized in hindsight.

And I particularly like your last point. Yes. No matter what happens, you’ll generally learn more by taking action than by waiting!

]]> By: Alistair http://www.svahaconcepts.com/blog/the-internal-message/being-a-perpetual-student/comment-page-1#comment-4359 Alistair Tue, 01 Jun 2010 03:18:26 +0000 http://www.svahaconcepts.com/blog/?p=2331#comment-4359 There is a point where you can be stuck in a loop of always preparing for something, but not actually doing it. The 'waiting until things are perfect' syndrome. But is also sounds like your 'perpetual student', in its way. Another way of procrastinating. I've been doing a bit of study myself of late, but hadn't thought that it might be also a trap. Something to ponder. I do believe that sometimes there is a perfect moment. Sometimes everything is fully ready. Sometimes you get a great result from waiting for that, and for preparing for that: and much better than going too early or late. But sometimes that just doesn't happen, or isn't going to happen in the present environment, and you've got to go with what you've got. The trick is knowing when that is true. Because as you point out, waiting around (even if you call it studying, or preparing, or whatever) generally doesn't get you what you want either. It isn't doing what you set out to do in the first place. And succeed or fail, you generally get an experience you can learn from when you do something. There is a point where you can be stuck in a loop of always preparing for something, but not actually doing it. The ‘waiting until things are perfect’ syndrome. But is also sounds like your ‘perpetual student’, in its way. Another way of procrastinating. I’ve been doing a bit of study myself of late, but hadn’t thought that it might be also a trap.

Something to ponder.

I do believe that sometimes there is a perfect moment. Sometimes everything is fully ready. Sometimes you get a great result from waiting for that, and for preparing for that: and much better than going too early or late. But sometimes that just doesn’t happen, or isn’t going to happen in the present environment, and you’ve got to go with what you’ve got. The trick is knowing when that is true. Because as you point out, waiting around (even if you call it studying, or preparing, or whatever) generally doesn’t get you what you want either. It isn’t doing what you set out to do in the first place. And succeed or fail, you generally get an experience you can learn from when you do something.

]]>