Imagine waking up to the sharp wails of an unfamiliar rectangular box. For a moment, you remember falling into a peaceful slumber on a rainy afternoon in the early 2000's. You hurriedly wake up thinking you missed your favourite TV show, which only comes once a week. It quickly dawns on you that you can look up your missed episode on that unfamiliar rectangle but never get that time back - a cruel reminder that nostalgia only sleeps; it never truly dies.
How often have you stared at this rectangular box and wondered if it made your life better by making everything convenient or if your clinging dependency on it has crippled your attention span?
Perhaps the true growth lies not in clinging to the familiar but in unlearning our dependence on instant gratification, on fleeting distractions, and reclaiming the power of deep, genuine connection with the world around us.
The smartphone was just one example. But in truth, unlearning is a concept that is inseparable from every aspect of our lives- especially in this ever-evolving world of technology.
Essentially, unlearning is the concept of consciously challenging our ingrained assumptions, ideas that we take for granted, automatic behaviours, habits, biases, and knowledge we have learned for years - and being open to changing these. Unlearning can create discomfort, challenging our established beliefs and forcing us to reconcile new information.
Our tendency to stick to familiar values and comfort zones often hinders the idea of unlearning. So why must one need to unlearn? Regarding this, Partha Modak, who has recently completed his undergraduate studies and entered work life, shares, "All my life, I used to take things very personally. I used to think everything only revolved around me. However, I always wanted to see myself as a better, happier, more responsible individual. A few years back, it struck me that my mindset did not align with my goal."
Partha shared that his journey to unlearn particular traits began with self-awareness and acknowledging that there are many areas to improve. He adds,
"And that's where paying attention to constructive criticism from others becomes handy- when receiving feedback, I don't see the other party as my enemy trying to belittle me, but rather as my well-wisher whose evaluation I can utilise to improve and create a better version of myself."
Unshackling ourselves from outdated habits or biases aids not only in personal growth but also in professional lives. In this fast-paced, ever-escaping world where one's existing skills feel outdated every new month, the ability to unlearn becomes a valuable skill and a gateway to genuine and enduring learning.
On this ground, Muhammed Asif Khan, CEO and Co-founder, Alpha Catering shares his insights. He thinks that everyone should be going through a process where they continuously update their views, ideas, values, and perspectives in life. If a person looks at the version of themselves 5 years back and doesn't see a significant change in these areas compared to the person they are today, he believes that their growth as an individual has been pretty limited.
In his career as an entrepreneur, Mr. Khan thinks unlearning how to micromanage has been a milestone.
"It took some humbling from my end to learn that this is one of the worst traits a leader can have. Firstly, employees will never learn how to get things done the right way if they are always micromanaged and never allowed to make decisions on their own. Secondly, no talented person would want to stay long-term in a company where they have no freedom and room to be creative."
Muhammad Asif Khan also believes that he quickly got pulled into the hustle culture by becoming a workaholic. Inevitably, the toll on his physical and mental health began to challenge his productivity. He mentions that unlearning this habit of overworking has been an important part of his journey. He adds, "I still have to work 6 days a week because I'm running two ventures now, but there's more balance. I no longer view 'workaholism' as a badge of honor."
K.M Saqiful Alam, Senior Program Manager at TikTok South Asian Region, believes the concept of unlearning is paramount in professional and personal life alike. Relating it to his field of data analysis, he shares, "If one wants to run new analysis on data, but stays fixed in limited variables based on previous research, there always remains a risk of missing out on new variables".
To elaborate, he notes that aside from technical prowess, what truly makes one a good analyst is the ability to shed off preconceived ideas, decipher the whispers within the data, and see the story as it unfolds rather than projecting desired narratives onto its canvas.
There is a human tendency to overvalue concepts we have long held to be true. We can become attached to ideas, beliefs, and even skills simply because we've held them for so long. This attachment can make it difficult to let go, even when it's in our best interest to do so. This strange phenomenon, where we place a higher value on things simply because we possess them, is called the endowment effect. Recognising this in ourselves can be the first step towards overcoming it and embracing the transformative power of unlearning.
Perhaps, the true measure of our humanity lies not in the accumulation of knowledge, but in the courage to unlearn and rewrite our stories. Like changing the insistent chime of the smartphone, once a harbinger of procrastination, be a call to unlearn- unlearn the dependence on the endless scrolling, the comfort of echo chambers, and the tyranny of instant gratification. May embracing the unlearning mindset empower all to learn to be their truest, fulfilling versions.
The piece was written by Ipshita Maliat Rahman, a final year student of IBA, University of Dhaka. Ipshita falls asleep wearing her glasses so she doesn't stumble in her dreams.
ipshitamrahman@gmail.com