Below is a letter I sent out to my lovely subscribers last weekend. If you would like to receive personal letters from me then subscribe to Ensemble exclusive member list. Subscription box at the bottom of the magazine page: click here
Dear Reader,
Happy Saturday. I am currently sitting in my conservatory with rain washing over all the windows and glass ceiling. It is quite a dramatic setting to sit in to write actually. Don’t we all imagine writers sitting there on their desk with a hot cup of coffee frantically typing away as the rain thunders outside? That is exactly my precise location, how wonderful. I know most of us hate the rain, classing it as typical bad British weather. Let me change your perspective on that. I read somewhere that every time it rains think about how the green landscape is being watered, nurtured. How the drying lakes are filling up and the grass is getting greener. Think about how the rain is cooling the warmed earth, and how it's physically purifying us. Rain gives us the chance to rethink our relationship with nature, and appreciate all its beauty when the sun shines again. Rain is the ultimate resetter. It forces us to slow down, and have some cosy downtime. We all need it. Rain, I thank you.
This week has been a turning point for me. A week of enlightenment that I very much needed. I learned that I need to learn more and that there is always something to learn more of. Not to toot my own horn here, but I was a great student. Throughout school and my higher education, I was what you call an ‘ideal student’. I worked hard. I pushed myself. The teachers loved me, and my grades always reflected that. I never failed anything, and I am proud of that. Whilst some may think of me as ‘naturally clever’ but I know I worked so hard to get the grades I did, to get to University, and to secure my Master’s scholarship. I worked really really hard, and no one can take that away from me. I may be naturally clever like some say, but my academic achievements were a result of my hard work, not my brain genes. Part of that is my family, I know they gave me more support than anyone could ask for, and more than anything they themselves inspired me.
My entire family, even generations down the line, have been academics who chose the path of education for as long as they could. When it was my turn, choosing to go to University or studying Masters was just part of life. Honestly, I loved that. I loved, and still love learning so it was the right decision for me. But, some of my perspectives are changing.
Now that I am out of the education system with a full-time job chipping away at my attempt to climb the corporate ladder, I have had a moment of enlightenment. Learning, and education isn’t all about grades or qualifications. I started my job thinking I know the deal. I recognise that I am still working on getting the experience, but I knew I am very highly knowledgeable in my field. I am an expert. This is what I thought. But more and more, I am learning how egotistical and vain the education system can make us feel. Essentially me achieving a high score is just a reflection of a subjective grading system that we as students try to train ourselves to satisfy. We learn from the textbooks written by (most likely) a heterosexual patriarchal voice and believe what they say to be the absolute truth. Ok, getting intense here - I by no means mean to belittle the experience and wisdom of the many talented academics who have written those textbooks.
But, I am meaning to say that there is always more than one voice, view, and virtue. There is so much more to learn, understand and believe in.
I want to be recognised as one of those people who are ‘well-read’. Not the obnoxious up-tight individuals who believe to be superior in any conversation they have. But, the ones who are able to listen, and see the world with many different eyes. Imagine how wonderful that would be. Imagine how colourful life would feel if you could think and feel like others, and not just yourself. I want to keep learning and keep knowing. I still don’t know what is the right way to do that, but I know this is - it’s all about exposure. I want to keep exposing myself to new things. I want to read more, listen more and watch more. This week in between my meetings as I was preparing my notes, I literally googled ‘what do CEOs read’. Because I truly believe those who have achieved some form of publicly recognised sense of ‘success’ are those who believe they have much more to learn.
Some actions I have taken (this is only the beginning):
Allocated some time in the mornings to read publications. I have customised this to my field of work and interest which is marketing and business. This means reading 1-2 articles every morning from key publications like the Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, Wired Magazine or CNN. I want to work on expanding my mind and think differently.
To listen to podcasts that push me to think from someone else's eyes. This is why I think diversity in the media is critical. I want to know how other people view the world, and why they think the way they do. Some of this includes listening to news podcasts that feature guests from around the world, and of different backgrounds. I want my life to feel colourful, and the only way I can achieve that is by exposing myself to colour.
Mindfully replacing social media with information. We know the obvious here like switching off notifications etc, but I have been making the active decision to substitute. Every time I feel like clicking on Instagram, I have been reaching for my digital reading list instead. I read a quote by Coach Tony from Better Humans “How much smarter would you be if you replace half of your social media usage with reading?”. Just half! If you go on social media for 3 hours a day, just half of that would be an hour and a half. Imagine. 1hr 30 mins every day - if we dedicated that time for our digital wellbeing, reading and listening to something useful, how great that would be for your mind, body and soul. Let me tell you - it would be life-changing.
As cheesy as it sounds, but I am still on a journey. I am still working out how to be a better, more productive and inspired human being. One thing is for sure - my learning did not and should not stop the day I graduated. In fact, that is when real learning begins.
Keep learning.
Lots of Love,
Ishani Dutta
Founder of Ensemble Magazine
This was a letter I sent out to my lovely subscribers last weekend. If you would like to receive personal letters from me then subscribe to Ensemble's exclusive member list.
Subscription box at the bottom of the magazine page: click here
Comments