The Learning Curve Isn’t Your Enemy
LISTEN! I KNOW exactly how you feel! You started a business because you love photography (or baking, or painting…). Now you are not only a photographer, but a writer, bookkeeper, blogger, marketer, website designer and everything else in between.
So today you put on your website hat (or your marketing hat)! You get your coffee, you are excited and motivated to show the world your business.
You sit down to start ______________. You get a little done, you pull up a “how to video,” you back track, start over, pull up another video, have a win, smile, breathe, feel accomplished. Pick up the next day and start the process all over again, only this time you don’t have a win, you mess up everything you worked on the following day, you can’t find the video that helped, this time everything isn’t working, and you walk away irritated and discouraged. (As a photographer and small business owner I have gone through all of this and as a small business mentor, I’ve watched so many creatives hit this wall).
It’s 2 steps forward, three steps back.
It’s also good for you!
Did you know that learning curves are actually good for us?
Why Learning Something New Is Good for You
Scientifically
What Happens in the Brain When You Learn:
1. You Make New Connections (Synaptic Plasticity)
Learning strengthens the the junctions where neurons communicate. Long-Term Potentiation (LTP): When two neurons frequently fire together, their connection becomes stronger. This is the basis of memory formation.
Think of it as paving new neural highways or reinforcing old ones.
2. Brain Chemistry in Action (Neurochemical Signaling)
Learning activates neurotransmitters like:
Glutamate: Key for synaptic plasticity.
Dopamine: Reinforces learning, especially when a reward is involved.
Acetylcholine: Crucial for attention and memory.
3. Brain Region Activation
Different areas light up depending on the task:
Hippocampus: Encodes new memories, especially declarative (facts/events).
Prefrontal Cortex: Involved in attention, decision-making, and working memory.
Cerebellum & Basal Ganglia: Motor learning and habits.
4. Myelination: Faster Wiring
With practice, neurons involved in a task become more myelinated — wrapped in a fatty sheath — making signals travel faster. This is crucial for skill acquisition.
5. Sleep & Memory Consolidation
During sleep, especially deep (slow-wave) and REM sleep, your brain:
Replays neural activity from the day. Transfers memories from short-term storage (hippocampus) to long-term storage
6. Neurogenesis (in some areas)
In regions like the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, new neurons can be formed in adults — a process linked to learning and memory.
7. Neuroplasticity
Learning doesn't just change the brain temporarily — it reshapes its structure over time. This is the essence of neuroplasticity.
With repetition and reinforcement, your brain physically adapts to become better at the task you're learning.
So, I know… I have walked a mile in your shoes. I know that frustration, I know the discouragement. I am here to tell you that YOU CAN do this. Repetition = learning. Keep going, keep letting those neurons connect and keep getting better every step you take.
And if you need a little help feel free to REACH OUT!