This week, I celebrated a major milestone: 100 note-makers from all over the world have joined the Flow Labs community. What stands out isn’t just the number, but the incredible linguistic diversity. Unlike most Americans, many of my community members think and write in multiple languages, not just English.
This motivated me to take on a new personal challenge: learning Russian. Not only because I have many Russian friends to practice with, but because it’s considered one of the most difficult languages for English speakers to master.
Here’s the thing about difficult challenges––they’re exactly what your brain needs.
Your mind is a muscle that requires cognitive exercise to strengthen. You strengthen your mind with intellectual progressive overload, gradually increasing the discomfort of learning things that are a little more difficult than you’re comfortable with.
But here’s what’s fascinating: Learning a language isn’t as challenging as we think.
Linguist Stephen Krashen proposed something called the “Input Hypothesis” that changed how I think about language learning. He suggests we acquire language in only one way: when we understand messages slightly above our current level – what he calls “comprehensible input.”
According to Krashen, language acquisition can be effortless and involuntary when we get the right kind of input. Think about how you learned your first language – you didn’t study grammar rules, you just absorbed language through understanding messages.
But here’s where I diverge from Krashen: While comprehensible input is crucial, I don’t think it’s enough on its own. Pure implicit learning (like how children learn) takes years. As adults, we can speed up this process by combining implicit learning with strategic explicit learning.
Here’s how I’ve adapted this understanding for divergent thinkers:
Start with what you can barely understand. I focus on content that’s just beyond my current level – where I can understand about 80% through context. This sweet spot triggers your brain’s pattern-recognition abilities without overwhelming it. I watch YouTube videos with subtitles, read simple stories, and listen to beginner podcasts.
Let natural curiosity guide you. Instead of forcing memorization, I capture what naturally catches my attention. When a phrase clicks or a pattern emerges, it goes into my notes. Your brain instinctively knows what pieces it needs.
Build atomic connections. Rather than massive vocabulary lists, I break down language patterns into small, connected notes. Each note links to related expressions, helping spot natural patterns in grammar and usage. This mirrors how your divergent thinking brain already works.
Create before memorizing. Use your notes to generate your own sentences. By actively creating with the language instead of just consuming it, you’re building neural pathways that stick.
The key is finding the balance between immersion (comprehensible input) and strategic study. When I’m stuck, I’ll look up translations or quick grammar explanations. These tools don’t replace natural acquisition – they support it.
This isn’t just about learning a language. It’s about pushing your brain past its comfort zone to acquire new knowledge and skills.
When you avoid difficult challenges, you’re not just missing out on learning a new skill – you’re denying your brain the growth it craves. Every time you encounter something difficult and push through it, you’re building cognitive resilience. Your brain creates new neural pathways, strengthens existing ones, and becomes more adaptable to future challenges.
Just like getting to my first major milestone in my business, the satisfaction isn’t just in the accomplishment – it’s in proving to yourself that you could overcome something challenging.
Until next time,
Tony