We don’t (or shouldn’t) stop learning when we get old, we get “old” when we stop learning. That’s why wise people keep learning:

“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” Prov. 1:5

“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” Prov. 18:15

One may respond, “But ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’!” Maybe. But we’re not dogs!

First of all, how does one define “old”? My wise husband says “old” is always at least 15 years older than what we are now! We’re only as old as our attitudes.

Secondly, even dogs can learn new things when they need to, no matter what their age. Move a senior dog to any new home and they’ll quickly learn where their food and water bowls are, and where the best places to “take care of business” are either in the yard or somewhere on a walk.

If dogs can “learn” by adaptation, instinct, and motivation, how much more can we people, who have the added benefit of cognitive ability!

Third, recent studies in brain-science have proven that our brains don’t “harden” and chip off like old plaster. Rather, the human brain maintains “neuro-plasticity” throughout life—meaning “ the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. It is when the brain is rewired to function in some way that differs from how it previously functioned.” (Wikipedia). In other words, we can continue to learn new information, adapt, and learn different ways of doing things.

The rest is up to us and our attitude. If we have a growth mindset, we’ll want to learn, know we can learn, and not give up on learning. Granted, we may get slower at reaching our goal, but it’s always worth the “race”. The “race” is only about our own run, not comparing ourselves to others or how fast we used to be. We will reach the “finish line” of new skills, knowledge and abilities. When we do, we’ll be in better shape, with a better life. The only thing stopping us is giving up before we try!

Phil. 4:13—“[We] can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me”—including learning new things when we get older!

Others may feel like they don’t need to learn any more. In their minds, they already know what they need to, in order to succeed in life and be comfortable. They’re not worried about being too old, they simply don’t want to make the effort to learn. This is called a “fixed mindset”. Fixed mindsets happen when people:

• Become too proud
• Become apathetic
• Become too tired and overwhelmed
• Become doubtful of their ability to learn

How do we address these barriers to a growth mindset that keep people in a fixed mindset? If this is for someone else, and we have any influence and/or authority:

1. For the proud – encourage humility by gently showing them what they don’t know (information and/or how-to). It’s been said that “we don’t know what we don’t know” and that applies here. If that doesn’t work, give them a harder push toward humility by putting them in situations where they need that information and/or skill to succeed. Failure, or at least the threat of it, does wonders for humbling the proud!

2. For the apathetic – motivate and interest them through either positive or negative incentives— “This is the reward/benefit of learning this (knowledge or skill). Or, “these are the consequences if you don’t!”

— Note that lack of interest often comes from either pride or self-doubt—either extreme—one saying “I don’t need this”, the other saying “I’ll never learn this anyway.”

3. For the too tired and overwhelmed—give them space and time to get energized. Energy and placing a higher-priority on learning also come from seeing the value of it—which takes us back to motivation.

4. For the self-doubters—Show them their limiting beliefs—such as the “too old” one addressed above. Give them evidence that disproves those limiting beliefs. It’s not that we can all be good at everything. We’re not designed with every talent in the world. But we can learn and become better than we were before.

If any of these apply to us, here are ways to deal with them, stated briefly:

• Overcome pride by realizing that we’re not perfect and don’t know everything. Better to humble ourselves than be humbled by others or circumstances or the Lord Himself! “…’God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” Jas. 4:6
• Overcome apathy by finding out whatever’s causing our lack of interest— Is it a feeling that it’s not worth our time and effort? Find or create a reward for learning. If it’s pride, fatigue, or self-doubt, refer to these other solutions.
• Overcome fatigue by making space and time for ourselves to learn.
• Overcome self-doubt by discovering the limiting belief that’s holding us back and why it’s false.

Here’s an example from my own life: In high school I decided I’d never learn computers (that was the age of all kinds of program languages and “Dos”). I thought and said “I’m not good at that kind of thing. I’m not even interested—can’t see any use for them. (This was the days before laptops and the internet).

Then along came email! Right about the same time as my husband and I and young son went to live overseas, far away. Now there was a use for computers—interpersonal communication! It also helped that they’d become a lot more portable (laptops). All that remained as an obstacle was my self-diagnosed lack of ability.

But now that I had a really good reason to learn computer technology, I had motivation, stronger than fear of failure, and set about learning. Oh the rewards thereof! Such as writing documents, books, and a doctorate dissertation on computer vs. a typewriter(!). The internet—for research, shopping, posting blog articles and other encouraging truth, etc. Even my profession— I do all my coaching online. I even got good enough at online communication and teaching/meetings to help some younger people overcome their fear and confusion when Covid hit and I was already used to it. All thanks to something I originally thought I wouldn’t have need for and couldn’t learn anyway!

Ultimately, our motivation must surpass and transcend any obstacles if we’re going to attain the kind of growth mindset that values and “chases after” learning.

Learning means growth. Growth signifies life. Science and our bodies show us that whatever stops growing starts dying.

If nothing else, that should motivate us to learn!