Do you learn lessons easily or does it take being hit on the head with an anvil? Speed up your healing. Know your learning style.
Flemming posits that there are 3 types of learners: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. I believe that we all use a combination of styles, but one of these may be your secret power! The more you tap into it, the easier you will learn.
Visual learners learn well through pictures, graphs, visual mediations, and may default to words that express the visual connection. "Can you please look at it from my point of view?" They may be quick to notice what is visually out of place in a situation. This is the person who tells the story about the toilet paper they saw sticking out of someone's pants. A visual learner will comprehend more from a film documentary or a book rather than a discussion group. Their most useful study tools include flashcards, or creating visual stories. In their healing process, they may understand their life lessons best when witnessing the experience of those around them, or standing in the midst of what they have created.
Auditory learners receive information best through speeches, lectures, songs, meditations with sound cues and rhythms, and may default to words that express the auditory connection. "Can you hear what I'm saying or are you tuning out?" They may be more likely to notice something out of place in a situation based on someone's tone of voice, or what they are not vocalizing. An auditory learner will process information more quickly by listening to audio books. Their most useful study tools are group dialogue, verbal repetition, or creating rhymes. In their healing process, they may understand life lessons best when listening to the experiences of their elders and applying that wisdom, or when being told by others what kind of impact they are making.
Kinesthetic learners are tactile and learn best through physical touch, movement, and taking action. They may enjoy walking meditations or trance dance, and may default to words that express the physical experience; "Can you feel what I'm going through? How do you feel about this?" They may notice something out of place if it is hanging, moving oddly, smells or tastes funny. A kinesthetic learner will process information best by doing it, or by standing next to someone who is directly implementing the work. Their most useful study process is going to direct sources and engaging a physical experience of the material. In their healing process, they learn their life lessons by "doing" life, and may gain wisdom most quickly through their own hands on experience.
What kind of learner are you? Use your strongest learning style to explore new things. Use a combination of learning styles to break through resistance or clear the paths of communication.
For instance, if you are always running late, ask yourself what kind of learner you are. Maybe that (visual) clock on the wall isn't enough to get you out the door, but a piercing (auditory) alarm clock, or the(kinesthetic) physical push of your roommate will be more effective.
Think of how your learning style could affect your Holiday shopping (do you go online, drive to stores, or place phone orders?).
Spend some time to determine your strongest learning style, and just for one week make changes in your work, emotional, and spiritual lives to support that style. What will happen if you shift how you engage with those around you, based on this knowledge?
© 2011 Dailey Little. You are welcome to reproduce this article provided you do so in its entirety, including the copyright and this blurb: "Dailey Little is a Reiki Master and active practitioner. She teaches Reiki & other fun stuff through her private practice in Santa Rosa, CA. Join her joyful community for ReikiShares, Free Clinics, and eco-activism by signing up at her website, www.SantaRosaReiki.com"