Dr. Lila Landowski

know feel a bit anxious and it's not a nice feeling yeah but really mistakes are really important when it comes to learning so when we make a mistake and we feel a bit anxious and you know we're feeling uncomfortable what's actually happening is our brain is releasing all of these neurochemicals that are actually helping us to pay attention that's where the agitation comes from it's actually creating these neurochemicals to make us focus on the thing that we just did wrong yeah and

I guess the next part of that is it's also opening up this little window of neuroplasticity.

So whatever we do next, the brain's much more likely to be a bit of a sponge and take up.

So we make a mistake, we feel a bit anxious, but it's our brain's way of preparing us to pay attention.

And then...

We do it again and hopefully get it right.

And when we get it right, our brain releases other chemicals like dopamine and it makes that memory stick into place.

So when you're trying to learn something, don't just wait until you're ready to test your knowledge.

Just keep testing yourself as you go.

Like if you're trying to play a sport,

get it wrong you know make it difficult let's say you're trying to play basketball take a weird shot at a weird angle and test yourself allow yourself to make that mistake because that way yes you might get it wrong at first but also you're making your brain remember how to do it right a lot better and it becomes a lot more efficient let's say you're trying to learn

a speech or something, don't wait until you think you've memorised it all to actually say it all out loud.

Just actually say it when you don't know it.

You'll actually have a much better chance of consolidating that information.

I think we often tell ourselves that when we make a mistake, it's a bad thing, but actually it's the best thing we can do for learning.

We really need to embrace that discomfort and that feeling and lean into it.

I think knowledge is power.

I think knowing that that discomfort is actually your brain just helping you to be the best version of yourself and leaning into that.

Mm.

It makes it easier.