Proverbs 22.6
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
We need to help children learn to learn. Teaching children to embrace the process of musar requires helping them make three commitments: Choose the mindset. Do the work. Be coachable.
Let’s look at commitment #2 for learning and building skill: Do the Work
The heartbeat of musar is the daily, disciplined process of doing the work necessary for learning wisdom and building skill. It is taking responsibility for doing the work to get better in how you respond to the situations of life and work. Here are the action steps:
- Study. Study the Word of God, and study the skills necessary to excel at your job. Identify areas of life and work where you need to build skill, and study and understand the mechanics you need to master.
- Focused Reps. For every stage and at all levels, focused repetition is the single most powerful tactic for building skill. Do the work of consistently applying discipline to the events and situations of your life. Practice the right things, the right way, for as long as it takes.
- Reach. Practice at the edge of your current abilities. Building skill will be uncomfortable, but understand that struggle is necessary for growth. If you practice in the comfort zone and avoid the difficult work, you won’t improve and get better. Embrace productive discomfort. Go to the edge of your ability and reach beyond it.
- Use Mistakes as Feedback. When you make a mistake, stop and reflect on it, make adjustments, and go again. It is not a matter of whether or not you will make a mistake, it is a matter of how you respond when you do.
Some habits and skills will come easily to you, others will be more difficult to learn. You will struggle, and that’s a good thing. The struggle will make you better. Not just better at the skill, but better at getting better.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, and energized by a “get better” mindset, this is the work you have to do to grow and build skill. This is also what parents must teach their children.
Trust God and do the work!
