Learning, Unlearning and Relearning for Gen Z

Our natural tendency is to learn new things and adapt to unique circumstances as human beings. It is what helps us evolve and grow as human beings. Just as we constantly keep learning things, we must also note the importance of unlearning things. Letting go of old customs and habits while adapting to new ones is essential for your growth.

As they say, change is the only constant. We must reflect upon ourselves and try to improve upon our flaws. For example, let’s take a look at the current pandemic. We learned to make use of virtual platforms to communicate with each other. To stay relevant in any industry, you have to learn new skills toremain relevant. As rightly said by Henry Ford, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”

Different people have different approaches to learning new things. Similarly, I think we all should take our own time and figure out what’s best for us and how we should go about it when learning something new.

Unlearning

Unlearning means letting go of old habits and mentalities. This happens as we mature. Usually, when we stop learning, we feel like there is some stagnation. But let us look at it differently. We can think of it as reflecting upon our actions and thoughts and bettering ourselves.

This is especially important for letting go of certain toxic behaviors that society has normalized. This process takes time and is necessary to bring about a change in people’s mindsets. In unlearning, we break down our thoughts and ask ourselves specific questions:

Why have I done this so far?

Does this align with my moral principles?

Is this what I truly aspire to be as a human being?

Is what I am doing helpful to the people around me? How does it affect them?

Asking oneself these questions will help one truly reflect upon their actions and realize which of them had a bad influence on others. For example, unlearning may mean getting rid of bad habits. For example, you are not eating healthy, not working out, smoking, and etc.

Unlearning should be seen as a way to pause and introspect. Unlearning may also mean leaving people who are a toxic influence on your life, who bring you and others down. After all, you are the average of the five people you surround yourself with. The whole process of unlearning is slow and comes gradually.

Relearning

Relearning means embracing the changes that come your way and accepting them. It means learning a new method or getting a fresh perspective, which one can only achieve outside their comfort zone.

For example, it may mean adapting to the virtual scenario as the pandemic struck us in our situation. A part of relearning is to get creative and find out new and better approaches to things you may or may not have done before. Relearning may also mean changing society’s beliefs and progressing towards more unbiased opinions.

For example, it could mean their way of looking at the LGBTQ community, their approach to helping eradicate racism, or maybe even changing the education system. Today’s youth are rebellious and will no longer tolerate any form of injustice. We are more proactive and want to take better control of the situation than before. Relearning may also mean catching up on your old hobbies, which you were too lazy to continue at one point in time. Maybe, it might be the right time for you to pick up that dusty old guitar lying in your room for a long time. Or, it could also mean learning to interact physically with people after bearing a pandemic for what seems to be the most extended period of our lives.

We want to portray that learning, unlearning, and relearning go hand in hand. These are all very important for our growth and shape us to be better individuals. One cannot do without the absence of even one of these factors. There is a quote by Deepak Chopra that says, “The past is history, the future is a mystery, and this moment is a gift. That is why this moment is called the present”. Similarly, we must learn to embrace our present and inculcate within ourselves the habits of learning, unlearning, and relearning in our day-to-day lives. This will lead to our holistic development and enable us to live life to its fullest.

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Shaping Young India

When we talk about nation building and the development of communities, one of the fundamental focuses of any institution is the sum total of rich and capable human resource. It is no lie that the demography of a certain place decides how the next few decades are shaped and modelled. In India, the rising youth population gives a gleaming ray of hope. The youngest workforce thrives in India and with 65 percent of the population aged under 35, the economy can only look upwards and the society can only think beyond the conventional. By 2022, India will have a median age of 28 which makes the youth an important part of the institution and a prime force to bring a change in this world.

But in the wake of several global issues, are we equipped to build a young workforce which is ready to face the challenges and steer the society towards the betterment of the world?

The young India is ambitious and resilient. They are informed and hence show greater autonomy when it comes to making decisions. The young India is curious and they want to up-skill in opportunities in ways more than one. Most importantly, today’s young India, wants to make an impact and empower others to grow and lead. But at the same time, they face various deadlocks blocking their ambitions and their purpose of being.

So, what really does the Youth of India seek?

The entirety of the young populace, through whatever means, want to find their purpose. When you find out what it is that you want to achieve, you basically go on to understand the world, its people and the society as a whole. This understanding is nothing but your first step towards bringing a change. A change, striving towards Peace and Fulfilment of Humankind’s potential. And this understanding and change comes through cross cultural experiences wherein you understand the dynamics of diverse perspectives and are better prepared to lead and empower others to grow. These experiences throw you out of your comfort zones, defying you with the toughest moments but also preparing you to activate your leadership skills in the challenging environments ahead.

Sometimes you are not able to judge your own abilities, your personality or your responsiveness to a certain situation until you are working with various individuals. The people you interact with help you grow, become self-aware and unleash the best version of yourself. The virtue of being self-aware and solution oriented is what makes an informed leader. A leader who brings out the best within every individual around him.

Do I have what it takes to become a leader?

It would be safe to say that leaders are not born but made. Anyone and everyone can become a leader. Today, the youth contributes to form 16% of the world population. A number this great is only a kind reminder of the potential that is waiting to be unleashed and waiting to be nurtured. Notable leaders are an example that the skillset required for leadership is not something you are born with but is something you acquire with practice and tons of dynamic experience. If a handful of leaders can bring an impact, imagine what India’s youngest workforce is capable of!

Are you introspecting your steps towards a change?

The onus to bring a change lies in the hands of this generation. A generation whose every decision is an action, every privilege is a responsibility and every idea, an innovation. So, on this International Youth Day, we ask you to find your purpose, we ask you to believe in yourself, we ask you to become a leader, we ask you to introspect. We ask you to take the first step towards a change.

This World Bipolar Day, let’s talk about Bipolar Disorder

“Somewhere between love and hate lies confusion, misunderstanding, and desperate hope.” – Shannon Alder

Bipolar disorder affects over 60 million people worldwide, which is almost the same number as the population of Italy.

World Bipolar Day, or WBD, is celebrated on 30th March every year to spread awareness worldwide about Bipolar disorder, which is an initiative taken by International Society of Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) in conjunction with the Asian Network of Bipolar Disorders and International Bipolar Foundation. The objective of this day is also to eliminate the stigmas and negative stereotypes associated with this disorder and to educate people to improve their sensitivity towards the illness.

Bipolar Disorder is a serious and often misunderstood mental illness that causes drastic shifts in the mood, energy and activity levels of a person. It usually comprises of a manic episode, which can be categorized as a phase of extreme overconfidence and happiness, and sometimes may also include irritability or anger, followed by a depressive episode that can include feelings of sadness, dysphoria, loneliness, and low self-esteem.

Causes

Scientists still have not yet discovered a single cause of bipolar disorder. But, currently, they believe several factors might contribute:

Genetics. The chances of developing bipolar disorder are increased if a child’s parents or siblings have this disorder. But don’t worry, the role of genetics is not absolute and confirmed: A child from a family with a history of bipolar disorder may never develop the disorder because some studies of identical twins have found one twin developing the disorder, the other did not.
Stress. A stressful event such as a death in the family, a sickness, a difficult relationship, divorces or financial problems can trigger a manic or depressive episode. Thus, a person’s way of handling stress also plays a role in the development of the illness.
Brain structure and function. Brain scans cannot diagnose bipolar disorder, yet researchers have identified subtle differences in the average size or activation of some brain structures in people with bipolar disorder.

However, it is not always so black and white. Bipolar disorder isn’t limited to just these two extreme phases. It is a spectrum of emotions and a roller coaster ride that meddles with not just the black and white, but also fumbles in the grey.

Types

There are more than 5 types of Bipolar disorders, which include:

Bipolar I Disorder: When you have a manic or mixed episode that lasts at least a week, or is severe enough that it requires immediate hospitalization. Plus, this is usually accompanied by depressive episodes.
Bipolar II Disorder: When you experience both depressive episodes and hypo-manic episodes but without any full manic or mixed episodes.
Bipolar Not Otherwise Specified: When you have symptoms of bipolar disorder that don’t technically meet the criteria for any specific type.
Cyclothymia: When you have hypomanic and depressive symptoms that don’t quite fit the criteria for mania, hypomania, or depressive episodes (and it lasts on and off for at least two years).
Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder: where you have four or more episodes in a year. You can find more info from the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) here.

It is imperative to understand that people with Bipolar Disorders are not ‘ticking time bombs’ or ‘landmines’ waiting to explode. Similarly, being moody or indecisive isn’t being bipolar and it isn’t something you can just ‘shake off’ through sheer will and determination.

Talking about Bipolar Disorder can be extremely difficult for those who live with it every day, as they struggle with swinging emotions and feelings, trying to find their identity between a storm of conflicting episodes and stigmas that surround this serious illness.

But, again, we salute and celebrate the people who are completely living a normal life along with suffering from a Bipolar Disorder. These are the people who motivate other people to not take stress if diagnosed with one and keep moving on in life, happily and smartly.

How can you contribute? Simple. When a person shares their story with you, listen and be there for them. Several people keep their illness a secret due to fear of judgment and differential treatment in their workplace. Making an effort to understand the disorder and the complexities that come with it, is one way to be there for your loved ones who may be fighting it every day.

You might never know the person right in front of you, in this era full of stress, might be suffering for a Bipolar Disorder but still smiling and talking to you. Imagine how sharing your good thoughts and words might help them 🙂

How are you contributing? Do you have a story? Tell us in the comments below!

We would love to hear 🙂

Written by

Malawika is a Mass Communication student from Delhi. She is an astrophile, passionate about Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan, and loves to listen to the Arctic Monkeys, her favorite band. Find her at her happiest while exploring new cities and justifying her love for the color orange!

3 Must-Dos on this World Energy Conservation Day

“Energy conservation is energy independence” – Tom Allen

This simple quote sums up the immediate need and importance of energy conservation, in the 21st century. Why? Most of us know the answers. But let me tell you again.

Up to 90 per cent of the world’s oil reserves will be depleted in the next two generations. If we do not start thinking of and implementing alternate sources of energy efficiently the world will face an energy crisis.

And it’s said that this upcoming crisis will cause a shift in global political power – the power shift that happens from nations controlling international currencies to nations with commodities such as oil, uranium, and gold.

No matter what the political or economic changes may be, we will face the biggest environmental crises due to the rising carbon oxide and carbon monoxide emissions. All thanks to our relentless and endless use of finite fossil fuel resources.

But we can always start changing our habits, and hope that there’s still time to bring some good impact.

This World Energy Conservation Day, let’s adopt some basic but effective policies that can help us delay this energy crisis!

1. Adjust your day to day behaviours

When individual efforts combine to make a huge change, every little step goes a long way, especially in the case of energy conservation.

Turning off lights and fans when you do not need them not only reduces your electricity bill, but also conserves important energy and reduces the overall need for energy. It is a ripple effect: one house, one district, one city.

We all know how small changes in our behaviour can bring a big impact.

Simple acts such as turning down the heat on our thermostat in winters and using air conditioners for a lesser period of time in the summers can be our important contribution to a better and more sustainable future.

Can you imagine how it all adds up to create a huge, quantifiable impact? 🙂

2. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

This is a very basic but highly effective method to tackle the energy crisis.

Reduce the amount of waste you produce by buying minimally packaged goods or making use of reusable packaging, and recycling them the next time you go shopping. This can significantly decrease the energy used in making and disposing these products.

Did you know that for every half a kilogram of waste you decrease, you save energy and reduce emissions of CO2 by almost 1 pound?!

Using and encouraging the use of products made with recycled elements, instead of non-renewable scratch materials, uses 30-55% less for paper products, 33% less for glass and a whopping 90% less for aluminium!

How is that for positive change with minimum efforts?

3. Adopt energy efficient appliance practices

Whereas, our traditional light bulbs are incandescent and consume an excessive amount of electricity. Let’s replace them today!

This not only saves you money in the long run, but also conserves energy. In a typical home, one CFL can save upto 260 pounds of CO2 per year!

The practices we can adopt are endless, however it always starts with the most basic level: yourself.

Talking isn’t trying Instead of preaching, it is time for us to put these practices in use and start taking these measures seriously and encourage those around to do the same.

Afterall, it is rightly said – there is too much energy conversation instead of energy conservation. It’s time to walk the talk and do our bit!

If you want to take a step further and contribute a bit more, here are “5 Creative Ways of Sustainable Living”!

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