What’s your thing to deactivate fear? Music? Gardening? Crafting?
Ever told yourself that someday you’d learn another language?
If you’ve found an extra fifteen minutes a day, why not merge your stress reliever with an item on your bucket list?
Let’s put Duolingo aside for now, as fun as it can be, and confront this common fear: I’m going to learn how to say stuff in (Spanish) but won’t understand when someone responds. I’ll seize up…and then give up.
I’ve been afraid, too. Of learning Portuguese—something I’ve been wanting to do but haven’t committed to on a regular basis. I’ve told myself there’s no time. Too many other priorities and hobbies.
My new morning routine includes getting up at the same time as I did when driving to work (criminy, I don’t want to get up at 6:15ish) and listening to a guided meditation in Portuguese.
I already know what I’m getting into, right? Someone with a slow and soothing voice will direct me to breathe deeply, will tell me I’m loved, will help me surrender self-doubt and anxiety.
Oh, at first, I so wanted to understand all the words. Recalling my principle purpose, to rest my roaming mind, I’ve found that I’m not worried about figuring it all out. I thought maybe I’d be bored with the same meditation. Not so. As a by-product of this short daily practice, I’ve become more accustomed to the language’s rhythm.
About two weeks into it, and without any forethought, I started repeating some of the phrases aloud—for about ten seconds—and then refocused on listening.
This spaced learning exercise squelches my inner demon, the hellion who demands perfect pronunciation and comprehension. I gain a sense of peace, accomplishment—every day, it seems like another piece of vocabulary clicks into place—and confidence to speak with a native Brazilian.
Isn’t it about time you grab a hold on whatever it is that makes you tick and a language you want to learn?
If your thing is music, I’m confident you’ll learn to identify the words for heart (code-ah-SEWN), soul (AHL-mah) and love (ah-MODE) early on. If you’re a green thumb or crochet fanatic, you can learn that lingo, too, in a contextual, natural flow.
Not sure if this approach will work for you? Need a good listener? Please contact me for a free consultation. Let’s get started.