Download several books containing strategies for a physical skill you wish to acquire (eg improve golf swing) or information for a specific purpose (eg quiz night). Continue with your normal activities (playing golf, taking part in the quiz) and notice improvements.
“When you sell a man a book you don’t sell him just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue – you sell him a whole new life.” Christopher Morley, Writer
Direct learning means downloading books to gain specific skills or results without doing anything to bring the information to conscious awareness. It relies on the power of the non-conscious mind to recognise and implement the information or skill you need without the intervention of the conscious mind. Savant syndrome is a good example of how some individuals use direct learning.
HOW TO do it
- Identify the skill you want to improve. Set that as your purpose, eg “To have a strong tennis backhand.” “To make better decisions at work.”
- Close your eyes and visualise yourself with the desired outcome (this helps clarify your purpose – and means you’ll know when you’ve achieved it).
- Preview several books and find the two or three that are most likely to teach you the skill – make sure they give practical instructions and not just theoretical information.
- Download all the books. (The immediate feeling is that you don’t consciously know anything from the books.)
- Put the skill into practice without thinking about it, ie carry on with your normal activities involving the skill (play tennis, take part in quizzes)
- Over time notice improvements