/un/learn
discard (something learned, especially a bad habit or false or outdated information) from one’s memory.
This week, I had an emotional intelligence assessment debrief. If you’ve known me any length of time, you know how much I love self-assessments. It’s the most fun thing. During my debrief, we talked about my lowest sub-score – assertiveness. Which, let’s be honest, we all know is definitely true of me. Processing through my lack of assertiveness brought up lots of things I learned over the years about asserting myself. I learned to only bring bullet proof ideas to the table. Otherwise, I keep my mouth shut. No one necessarily used words to teach me that, but it was a lesson I learned nonetheless.
So I guess this is a new season of unlearning. Unlearning the lessons that hold me back and prevent me from being the best leader/person/woman God has created me to be.
As I continue to process and reflect on this past year, I see where God has been stretching me and teaching me to unlearn thought patterns and behaviors that are unhealthy or unloving. I’m being reminded that Genesis 1 comes before Genesis 3 (thankful for Deb’s constant reminders on this). I’m unlearning the culture I grew up in and relearning the culture I find myself in. And a lot more that I don’t have words for yet (maybe someday I will).
And it’s good. So stretching. But so good.
Even in my season of unlearning, I’m also finding myself STANDing stronger and more confidently in some of the things I’ve learned in the past. The culture around me has challenged me to dig deeper into the teachings of Jesus. Heck, even in the middle of transition and change (my FAV things), the lessons I’ve learned in the past are being reinforced in big ways. God doesn’t change. He remains faithful. He isn’t going to leave me or forsake me. And I’m more rooted than I’ve been before.
If you’re out there reading this experiencing the growing pains of unlearning lessons, I hope this is encouraging to you to know you’re not alone.
Here’s to letting Jesus gently reteach me and grow me in new ways.