"Constant repetition carries conviction." --Robert Collier
It's the whole premise behind daily mantras ("You're a worthwhile person. Everyone likes you."). By telling yourself positive things regularly, one starts to believe and is then empowered to affect positive changes in one's life. Whether or not such "rituals" actually work, they show just how powerful the idea of repetition can be.
Because we're revisiting these articles and ideas time and again, hopefully we bring different insights and perspectives each time around. It might just be that we feel the same toward the topics as before, but by also forcing oneself to reconsider and revisit the topics, it may also strengthen and reinforce our opinions--which can also be a positive thing. I've had both experiences where in the intervening time between first reading an article and discussing it and then later writing about it, I gained a more in-depth understanding and the opposite, where my feelings have remained static. I don't think that either reaction is more or less desirable than the other. At least we get the opportunity to breathe, take a look back in order to move forward.
Picture sourced from: http://www.findmefit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/meditation.jpg
Whoa! That quotation is deep but your response is deeper. I had to read your comments again and then yet again to really get it. Repetition.... Isn't that what comprehension is all about? Even as teachers when we prepare our lessons, we think we have a good grip on it. But when we repeat it out loud as we teach the lesson we manage to learn more about lesson and ourselves than when we first worked on preparing it.
ReplyDeleteWow! that was DEEP!, but expected. I always see you deep in thought when we have class discussions and wonder why most times you don't share. Now I know! your mind is busy in thought, digesting everyones insights. Then when it's been fully digested, you form your perspective of your thoughts and the discussion and Viola!! Really deep insights! I agree with Faye also, with hearing and learning more!
ReplyDeleteahaha! I think I was just a bit more tired than usual when I posted that one. Whew~ you should read the papers I've submitted as an undergrad English major. I just like me a good compound sentence, and sometimes I go a bit overboard. I do think that repetition and revisiting helps us understand more deeply and that's something I've come to realize more as a college student and grad student. I agree with Faye that that's what we should shoot for with our students. Mar, I don't share as much because I haven't had as many experiences to draw from, but thanks for the compliment!
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