What’s Your Learning Edge?

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The EdgeAdam has started a meme by the name “What’s your learning edge?”. And I’ve been tagged by Ed Mills from Evolving Times. The challenge is to write about what you need or wish most to learn.

First a few words on the idea of edge. The epigraph of W. Somerset Maugham’s The Razor’s Edge reads: “The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard.” (from the Katha-Upanishad). Pema Chodron often uses the phrase to describe the place where one becomes uncomfortable with new and challenging experiences or feelings. In the book Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the author often discusses the importance of balance between challenge and reward in achieving a state of flow. If something is either too easy or too difficult, flow doesn’t occur. A while back I wrote a philosophical poem called The Edge about the difficulty of making choices.

At this point in my life the edge I wish to explore has nothing to do with reading or acquiring knowledge. Quite the opposite, my edge is to just be rather than always doing. I find that many problems in my life stem from my inability to just be, just be OK as I am, without any corrections, attractions, improvements or alterations. I am admittedly a compulsive doer, a perfectionist and very competitive. I am also a classical musician, where being present is vital. So just being is perhaps the most challenging goal of all for me to learn, and the one thing which may release the most constructive/creative energy for me. So there it is. Just BE. Simple. Perfect. And quite elusive to many of us, I’m sure!

I hereby tag Pamm, Isabella, Hilda of Living Out Loud, William of Integral Options Cafe, Josh of System 13, Scott of Finding Your Marbles. I’ve invited some new bloggers I’ve never met, but I thought it would be a good way to mix things up a bit.

Here’s what do to. To quote the original author of the meme: “Write a post about your “learning edge” and what you’re into these days. Feel free to mention any books you’re reading, classes you’re taking, people you’re learning from or collaborating with, etc. Tell us about the gems you’re picking up, the fun you’re having, etc., especially if they’re shifting the way you look at what you do.”

16 thoughts on “What’s Your Learning Edge?”

  1. Hi David,

    Thanks for joining in the Learning Edge — and you’ve picked the learning of all learnings, haven’t you? Being, rather than (or while) doing… as they say, ‘without the one thing, nothing else matters; and with it, everything else falls into place.’ Or, something like that. 😉

    Thanks for joining in, and tagging more people. I love seeing what people are up to.

  2. Adam- Yes, now that you mention it, the edge of just “being” could be seen as the “universal” learning edge. After I got stared it was a fun post to write. Thanks for the meme idea.

  3. Hey Garnet,

    Good to meet you. I’ve added your blog to my feeds.

    Thanks for tagging me with this — it seems one of the more useful memes floating around. I hope to post a reply tomorrow — I need to sit with a day or so.

    Peace,
    Bill

  5. Thanks for tagging me! This is a cool one…will be fun to play, go inward and find what is truly my greatest place of edge these days. Hugs your way.

    I’m appreciating your edge. It’s one I’ve played with for a long time and just keeps evolving on deeper levels. So much tied up in “doing,” yes?

  7. Pamm- Glad you want to play the meme. I can’t wait to see what your edge is. I have to admit, my learning edge is pretty generic, but vital to me right now. Hugs back…

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  11. We’re all turned into such busy bees lately that your advice Just Be, though sounding as simple and sane as can be, is the hardest advice to follow.
    I’ll replying to Isabella’s tag soon. I’m already thankful for her tag for introducing new interesting blogs, yours included 🙂

  12. inspirationbit- likewise, i was glad to find you. as you can tell from my headline, inspiration is a common theme to my blogs various angles.

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  15. David: Thanks so much for playing along with this one. Sorry it’s taken me a while to stop by and thank you in person.

    I love your exploration of the edge and the references to Maugham and Chodron, etc. Brilliant.

    If you have not yet seen the movie The Peaceful Warrior, you might want to watch it as part of your edge education. We watched it last night and while there was nothing “new” for me – and probably not for you I would imagine – it was great to be reminded of the things I do know, but sometimes forget to do, in a new way!

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