We love the idea of learning new things. But we often ruin the process by applying the wrong kind of pressure.

We try to Master a skill before we have even Acquired it.

We treat a new hobby like a job. We critique our first attempts. We look for "perfect" form before we have even found the fun.

But Acquisition and Mastery are two different phases, and they require quite opposite approaches.

• Acquisition is all about the initial spark. It needs our curiosity, desire, and playfulness. It thrives on fun, and needs an encouraging guide. We are exploring and experimenting.

• Mastery is about the fire that spreads. It demands our perseverance and the deliberate practice of identifying and working on specific weaknesses. It thrives on concrete feedback from a trustworthy coach or ourselves. We are refining and growing our skill.

The friction happens when we mix up the two.

When we apply the rigor of Mastery to the fragile phase of Acquisition, we kill our curiosity.

To move forward, we need to understand which mode we are in.

Where can you drop the pressure of "Mastery" this week and simply enjoy the messy joy of "Acquiring"?

Skillfully,
/rajesh