The Power of Lifelong Learning

Lifelong learning is the continuous and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge and skills at all stages of life.

By Lisa Walenceus

73% of American adults consider themselves lifelong learners. 63% of working adults have taken a course or received additional training as lifelong learners to improve their job skills or expertise connected to career advancement. — Pew Research Center

People choose to be lifelong learners for many reasons — here are just a few!

• Career advancement

The professional landscape is always evolving, and becoming a lifelong learner allows you to adapt quickly to changes.

• Personal development

Lifelong learning can help you discover new interests and passions, expand your horizons and challenge you to develop new skills.

• Mental health

Lifelong learning can stimulate your brain, improve your memory and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

• Civic engagement

Lifelong learning can help you become a more informed and engaged citizen, ready to participate in social and political issues.

• Personal connections

Lifelong learning can provide you with opportunities to meet new people, build relationships and network with others who share your interests.

WHAT DRIVES LIFELONG LEARNING?

A GROWTH MINDSET

A growth mindset is the belief that you can develop abilities and talents, both new and old, through hard work, effort and learning.

People with a growth mindset seek out new challenges as opportunities.

A CURIOUS NATURE

Curiosity is the natural quality of an inquisitive, wondering and playful mind: It fosters creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills. Curious people are not afraid to experiment and to learn from mistakes.

THE JOY OF NEW EXPERIENCES

Research has shown that dopamine, a neurotransmitter that gives you a sense of pleasure, reward and motivation, accompanies new experiences.

People who seek out new experiences find a greater sense of well-being.

PERSONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

American adults who pursued personal learning opportunities say that their experiences:

87% Helped them feel more capable and well-rounded

69% Opened them up to new perspectives about their lives

64% Helped them make new friends

58% Made them feel more connected to their local community

43% Prompted them to get more involved in career opportunities

“Much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on.”

— Steve Jobs

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

American adults who participated in professional learning opportunities say that their experiences:

65% Expanded their professional networks

47% Helped them advance within their current company

29% Enabled them to find a new job with their current employer or a new one

27% Helped them consider a different career path

“The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson