Out With the Old: Embracing the Power of Unlearning to Achieve Growth

“It takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!”

— Lewis Carroll, Alice Through the Looking Glass

With the breakneck pace in technological progress and the explosion of available knowledge, the need for individuals to continuously update their skill sets is greater than ever. While these advances have made it easier to find new opportunities and create innovative solutions, the increasingly complex nature of our jobs means that we must continuously learn and adapt to new information and ideas.

It is important for us to strive for continuous growth and development because it not only helps us improve our competencies and expertise, but also keeps those skills relevant to stay competitive in a rapidly changing job market. However, growth does not always mean acquiring new knowledge and skills. In fact, one of the most crucial aspects of professional growth is unlearning – shedding outdated beliefs and practices that no longer serve us.

Unlearning is the process of letting go of old ways of thinking and doing things that may have been relevant at one point, but are now hindering our progress. It involves challenging our deeply ingrained beliefs and assumptions, and reevaluating our habits and practices in the light of new information and changing circumstances. Replacing old habits and ideas with more effective ones is essential for maintaining a competitive edge and staying ahead of the curve. In a professional context, this can be incredibly important for growth and success.

In the age of big data and artificial intelligence, we are constantly bombarded with new information and experiences. This can make it easy to accumulate outdated or incorrect beliefs and knowledge, particularly in fast-paced fields where new developments are constantly emerging, making previous knowledge and standard practices obsolete.

Holding onto these beliefs and knowledge can be detrimental to our professional growth. It can prevent us from adapting to new situations and making the most of new opportunities. It can also lead to stagnation and a lack of creativity and innovation.

Unlearning allows us to let go of these beliefs and knowledge to make room for new, more relevant information. It can help us to stay open-minded and flexible, and to approach challenges and opportunities with a fresh perspective.

If the overall learning journey – which can involve learning, unlearning, and relearning of concepts, beliefs, skill sets, and practices – is considered as a software update for our minds, the idea of unlearning may be thought of as uninstalling features from previous versions that are no longer needed or even make us vulnerable to threats like stagnation, bias, and disinformation.

Key Features of Unlearning

Some of the key aspects involved with the process of unlearning are as follows.

It is a continuous process.

As the world around us evolves, so do the needs and expectations of it from us – whether it is our clients, customers, colleagues, or employers. With new information and perspectives are constantly emerging, what was once considered correct or relevant can quickly become outdated or incorrect. What worked for us in the past may not necessarily be effective anymore, and we need to be open to unlearning and adapting to these changes on a regular basis. By recognizing unlearning as an ongoing, integral part of the lifelong learning process, we can continue to grow, both personally and professionally.

It requires a shift in mindset.

Unlearning requires deliberately challenging our old beliefs and practices (“This is the way it’s always been done!”) and adopting a growth mindset. It involves being open to and constantly seeking out new information and ideas, and opportunities to learn and grow. We must be able to see ourselves as learners rather than experts, willing to embrace change and adapt to new situations, rather than clinging to old ways of thinking.

It takes time.

As the saying goes, “Old habits die hard.” Our brains are naturally inclined to maintain status quo. As a result, letting go of preconceived notions and outdated knowledge can be difficult, especially if one has held these beliefs for a long time, or if they are deeply ingrained in one’s thinking.

Further, the process of unlearning often involves seeking out new sources of information, engaging with others who have different perspectives, and actively pursuing learning opportunities to achieve personal growth. All of these activities require time and effort.

It can be uncomfortable.

Challenging our deeply ingrained beliefs and assumptions can be difficult, as we may have become comfortable with our existing ways of doing things. We may even feel threatened by the prospect of change because these beliefs may be closely tied to our identity, and letting go of them can feel like losing a part of ourselves. However, by embracing this discomfort and pushing through it is how real growth happens.

What does science say about unlearning?

There is a growing body of scientific research that explores various aspects of unlearning, its importance, and potential benefits.

Multiple studies (like this one) have suggested that unlearning is an active process rather than simply forgetting a memory, skill, or behavior. Such active unlearning is made possible by neuroplasticity – the incredible ability of our brains to be flexible to reorganize and change the connections among neurons (brain cells) in response to experiences. By forming new connections between neurons, the human brain can effectively “rewire” itself to eliminate old habits and replace them with new ones. This remarkable capacity can be especially helpful in situations where an individual may need to break a negative habit or overcome a mental block in order to make positive changes in their life.

While neuroplasticity is much higher when we are younger, as we get older and more connections develop among neurons, our brains become less flexible, making it harder to unlearn entrenched patterns. As they say, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. Well, you can, but it just needs more effort – the more child-like brain plasticity can potentially be reintroduced in adulthood through drugs and non-pharmaceutical interventions.

A lot of research on unlearning has focused on the undesirable outcomes associated with fear responses, something highly relevant for treating conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Some of these findings also provide some insight into the role of unlearning in reducing ineffective or detrimental behaviors and how we can unlearn them, especially when they are associated with strong emotions.

Multiple studies have highlighted a key role for sleep in unlearning: a study published in the journal Science highlighted how sleep can help unlearn implicit social biases. Another study found how some phases help learning while others promote unlearning, while other research has demonstrated how a lack of sufficient sleep can impair the ability to unlearn fear-related memories.

Different sets of neurons have implicated to control the learning and unlearning processes. Recent evidence suggests a complementary role for unlearning and new learning, to be both working in tandem to accomplish modification of memory and behavior.

How Can We Unlearn Entrenched Patterns, Habits, and Beliefs?

Be aware of your biases and preconceptions.

When we are set in our ways of thinking, we tend to develop certain biases or prejudices. These biases can influence how we perceive information and how we respond to situations. Being aware of our biases is an important first step to unlearning, as they can often interfere with the ability to objectively evaluate new information and ideas. By being mindful of biases, we can take steps to counteract their influence and approach new information with an open mind.

Acknowledging and being aware of one’s biases and preconceptions can also help foster a sense of humility and self-awareness. By recognizing that our perspectives are not infallible, we are better able to let go of outdated or incorrect information and be open to new ideas.

Recognize limiting beliefs and habits.

This is an important part of the unlearning process because it can help to identify the specific beliefs and patterns that may be holding us back.

By recognizing them and acknowledging their existence, we can begin to see them as obstacles that can be overcome, rather than as unchangeable truths. This can help to motivate us to engage in the unlearning process and to actively seek out new information and perspectives.

This process often involves deep reflection: digging deeper within ourselves and being honest about the perspectives and habits that we need to unlearn. However, the biases discussed above and the discomfort stemming from the prospect of change can introduce blind spots that may prevent us from performing an honest assessment. In these situations, actively seeking out trusted outsider perspectives, such as feedback and guidance from mentors and colleagues can be quite helpful.

Embrace a growth mindset of openness and curiosity.

Embracing openness and curiosity can help with unlearning by providing the mindset and motivation necessary to let go of previous ideas and embrace new ones. In fact, multiple studies have found a strong correlation between the personality trait of openness and acquiring new knowledge. Having an open mind allows us to be receptive to new ideas and perspectives, which can help challenge and expand upon existing beliefs and ways of thinking. This, in turn, can make it easier to let go of preconceived notions and outdated information. 

Further, being curious and open to new information and perspectives exposes seeking out new information can help to keep one’s knowledge and skills up to date, which is essential for unlearning. By constantly learning and staying current, one is better equipped to identify and discard outdated information or processes, which is a key part of unlearning. 

“The illiterate of the 21st Century are not those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.”

Alvin Toffler, Powershift: Knowledge, Wealth, and Power at the Edge of the 21st Century

Unlearning holds the key to growth in an ever-changing world.

Unlearning – the shedding outdated beliefs and practices that no longer serve us – is a crucial part of professional and personal growth. By breaking free of old ideas and approaches, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and opportunities. It allows us to challenge our own assumptions and step outside of our comfort zone to enhance our skill sets, knowledge, and perspectives. 

Unlearning is a continuous process that requires a shift in mindset, takes time, and can be uncomfortable. Scientific evidence suggests unlearning is facilitated by neuroplasticity – the brain’s remarkable ability to essentially “rewire” itself. Research in this regard offers clues about how the power of unlearning can be leveraged to reduce ineffective or detrimental behaviors.

Unlearning entrenched beliefs, practices, and behavior requires being aware of our own biases, recognizing limiting thought processes and habits, and embracing a growth mindset.

We live in an ever-changing world, and we need to be willing to adapt and evolve with it. Unlearning is an important part of this process. We can and should engage in it on a regular basis as new situations and experiences emerge.

Please follow and like us:

Aaram A. Kumar

Hi there! I’m Aaram, the founder of Sciencera. I grew up in the beautiful city of Thiruvananthapuram in the Southern part of India, famous for its pristine beaches. Now, I am a scientific writer based in Indianapolis. When I am not busy procrastinating on my writing, poring through research articles, or coming up with grand ideas to save the planet, I love playing soccer and chess. I read a bit and write sporadically when caffeinated to the right amount. I am passionate about scientific research, writing, and outreach activities.