The fact that brain plasticity drops dramatically around the 25 year mark has many interesting implications, especially for young people. It means that they have until 25 to ingrain the best habits into themselves. In American culture the young are often told that now is their time to party and have fun because “work life is unfulfilling and not very fun.” Cultural blurbs along these lines are echoed in terms like ‘YOLO.” There isn’t much pressure for the young to discipline themselves or create good habits because they “have plenty of time for that later.” Yes, people under 25 tend to be immature, which lends itself to having bad priorities. However, there is an incredible amount of opportunity if a young person can learn the right skill set early while re-enforcing the skills throughout their young life.
The target demographic for this article is those from 15-25. You are young and the habits you have now are being deeply ingrained in you. Instead of going out to party ingrain a productive habit into yourself. Learn skills like discipline, self-starting, speed reading and consistent self-education. These traits will keep your mind nimble and prepared for change. You have an incredible gift that our culture inspires you to not use effectively. Let’s look at myself as an example.
I am 23. This means I have two years to teach myself as many important skills and discipline as possible. There are so many behaviors and habits that I want to ingrain into my being that I’m going to have to press for all I want. I want to learn good habits and I have little time to do so until it becomes much harder. Now, I could wait to learn these habits until they are necessary, and party it up while in college. Instead I have elected to ingrain habits in myself that will help me for life. I have developed a love for reading and a thirst for knowledge that can not be parched. Most importantly I have put myself in situations that are outside of my comfort zone on a consistent basis.
Having the ability to put yourself outside of your comfort zone is a hugely important skill. That is where you learn. Outside of your comfort zone you learn more than you could ever read. Now, over the last year I’ve figuratively fallen flat on my face outside of my comfort zone. It hurts, a lot, but I learned a ton and I am better for it. Even though I have not learned to step out as consistently as I would like, the times I have stepped out have taught me a lot. This skill is difficult for anyone to acquire because stepping out of the comfort zone requires a large amount of personal control. However, this is a skill that all successful people have. I will acquire this skill this year because I know to achieve the level of success I want I must be able to step out of my comfort zone.
So young readers, join me in an attempt to better prepare ourselves for our future. The disciplined live like others will not. So one day they can live like others can not.
Daedalus' Workshop 