Learn and understand the things that come up often.

Having to repeatedly learn—or ignore—something that frequently appears in your life can be exhausting. It wastes energy and distracts from other important things.

This thought struck me during a doctor's appointment yesterday. Every time they wrap an inflatable band around my arm, they measure two numbers—one over the other. It’s my blood pressure. But, I realized, my ignorant self doesn't truly understand what these numbers mean or why they matter. What do they reveal about my health? What’s a normal range? What do higher or lower numbers indicate?

Sure, it’s easy to leave these interpretations to doctors. We don’t want to assume we know more than the professionals or turn minor information into fuel for hypochondria. But here’s the flip side: having basic knowledge can give us the power to collaborate more effectively with healthcare providers and take an active role in our well-being.

This principle goes beyond medical terms. Whether it’s a word you hear repeatedly, a unit of measurement, or a currency conversion rate—if it shows up often enough, it’s worth learning to eliminate mental ambiguity and replace it with immediate understanding.

This approach isn't limited to practical knowledge but also applies to curiosities that enrich life. What bird is making that sound? What type of tree is that? What’s the history of my city? Knowing our surroundings—both geographically and historically—enriches our experience, enabling deeper engagement with our environment.

This kind of learning doesn’t require intense study (although, if you love a good deep dive, go for it!). It’s often impractical to focus on extensive studying given daily demands. Instead, here’s a strategy that has worked for me:

1. Identify what to learn: When I encounter a new piece of information, I jot it down in a notebook or on my phone.
2. Research when convenient: I look it up whenever I have a free moment (at the gym between sets, during a break, etc.). ChatGPT is incredibly helpful for quick learning.
3. Break it down: I reduce the information to its simplest, most essential parts.
4. Make flashcards: I create flashcards using Anki, a spaced repetition software that helps with retention.
5. Review regularly: The habit of periodic review does the rest, gradually embedding the new knowledge.

After incorporating this new information into my routine, I find myself interacting with the world differently whenever it comes up again. It’s difficult to describe fully—in fact, I sometimes wonder if the effort is worth it or if I’m just a bit obsessive—but there’s a noticeable enhancement in my daily experience. As knowledge integrates, so does awareness, like turning up the brightness on life and noticing more details.

Next time you encounter something you don’t understand but have seen before, look it up and learn it. Do this consistently over a few weeks or months. How will your awareness of the world change?