1: “We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience,” said the educational reformer John Dewey.
Our ability to think, to reflect, to “think about our thinking” is integral to our ability to learn.
The term used to describe our ability to be aware of our thinking is called metacognition.
Which author Anne-Laure Le Cunff calls “the forgotten secret to success” in her book Tiny Experiments.
“In essence, metacognition is curiosity directed at our inner worlds—our thoughts, our emotions, our beliefs. It empowers us to be the master of our mind, providing us with the tools to shape these inner experiences in a way that brings us closer to our aspirations.”
This ability to “think about our thinking” impacts all areas of our lives. “It is the skill that allows a student to recognize they’re unprepared for an exam and take corrective action, or an athlete like Eliud Kipchoge to understand the importance of not just how fast he’s running but also how his shoes feel during a run.”
It’s also a critical component of our work lives. “We deal with ten thousand things at a time in the office,” says marketer Leo Sadeq. “Metacognition gives me clarity of thought and creative space to think. It’s a way to assess whether I’m heading in the right direction.”
To maximize our ability to learn, we must not only acquire knowledge and skills but hone our ability to “think about our own thinking, question our automatic responses, and know our minds,” Anne-Laure writes.
“That’s the metacognitive edge,” she notes. “It equips us with the skills to be both the actor and the director in the unfolding story of our lives. By reflecting on the past, we can decode the future.”
2: Act. Reflect. Learn.
“Without the willingness to try, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn from our mistakes and refine our trajectory,” Anne-Laure writes. “And without reflection, we would repeat the same error in an infinite number of trials.”
Great chefs constantly experiment by adding new ingredients, then tasting and deciding what to do. As the renowned chef Julia Child once said: “If everything doesn’t happen quite the way you’d like, it doesn’t make too much difference because you can fix it.”
Failure is not something to be feared but embraced as a crucial part of the process that points us toward the next step in our journey.
“The scientific method relies on formulating hypotheses, testing them, and incorporating the results into the design of future experiments,” she explains. “Sports teams commit to a strategy, apply it during a game, and keep on adapting their approach through each cycle of training and competition.”
Pausing after each iteration is critical to our success because doing so allows us “to make small adjustments each time, picking up new abilities and knowledge along the way,” Anne-Laure writes. “Each cycle adds a layer of learning to how we understand ourselves and the world around us. Instead of an external destination, our aspirations become fuel for transformation.
This circular model of learning and growth is an essential part of the human story. “We don’t go in circles,” she observes. “We grow in circles. . .
“In many cultures,” Anne-Laure writes, “the wheel is a symbol of growth and success. It combines the ideas of progress and wholeness: It is complete, and yet it keeps on moving. It represents the perpetual change and transitory nature of life.
“The cyclic ages of Hindu cosmology, the wheel of life in Buddhism…The dynamic dance of the Chinese yin and yang also recognizes cycles of life that encompass opposites, the dual craving we have for discovery and comfort, and the desire to find balance in accommodating both phases into our lives. In Greek mythology, the phoenix cyclically regenerates so that every ending is a new beginning,” she observes.
3: When we are intentional about turning our thoughts inward, we can reflect on our past actions and determine what to do next.
“While introspection is simply noticing our thoughts and emotions,” Anne-Laure explains, “metacognition involves both awareness and analysis. It’s like having a wise inner coach who observes the game and shares strategies that are most likely to lead to smoother victory next time.”
When we think this way, we are less likely to act impulsively. Our goal is to create a conversation with our inner selves and the bigger world.
Anne-Laure writes: “It allows us to parse what we have accomplished with clear eyes; to assess what worked, what didn’t, how we really feel; and to appreciate the view from where we now stand.”
Time to reflect was built into how our ancestors lived. Their “daily routines included organic opportunities to shape their inner world,” she suggests, “on long walks, in meditative moments while completing repetitive tasks such as sewing and tending to crops, or in nightly reflection when praying before bed.”
Those quiet natural pauses have disappeared. Instead, our lives are filled with an avalanche of messages. Which leaves precious little time for thinking or reflecting.
“This shutdown carries serious repercussions,” Anne-Laure writes. “Research shows that, without metacognition, we are often unaware of the factors influencing our own choices and behaviors.”
Which means we must build these moments into our daily routine.
“For example,” she observes, “when we notice an instinctive response and pause to consider it, we’re then able to separate it from the tangle of other factors that may be in play. At that point we can evaluate whether it is a response we want to act upon.”
Barbara Oakley exemplifies these ideas in action. She “had a deep aversion to math and science as a child, believing she wasn’t ‘wired’ for them. It wasn’t until she was in her mid-twenties and joined the army that Oakley saw firsthand the importance of understanding systems,” Anne-Laure writes, “which sparked her interest in engineering. She started from scratch, taking remedial algebra at a community college.
“As she delved into her studies, Barbara developed various metacognitive strategies to aid her learning. She realized the need to balance times of intense concentration (focused mode) with those of mental relaxation (diffuse mode) to solve problems efficiently. Those metacognitive strategies were crucial for Barbara’s learning journey.
“She is now a professor of engineering, and the techniques she developed led her to co-create the wildly popular online course ‘Learning How to Learn,’ which has been taken by millions of students worldwide. Her story highlights how gaining insights into your own learning and thinking can lead to remarkable transformation.”
Indeed!
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Reflection: How often do I pause to reflect on my thinking, emotions, and automatic responses—and what insights might I gain if I did this more intentionally?
Action: Build a daily moment of reflection into my routine, pausing to consider what worked, what didn’t, and how I can adjust my approach for tomorrow.
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