The Illusion of Mastery

And the truth about learning.

Picking up an instrument is easy.  We learn a few chords and think - that sounds pretty close to my favorite song.  

A few more chords in, and we think – I have a real knack.  I am a natural born pianist. 

This is just an illusion.  

Whether it is an instrument or organic chemistry, the early buzz of curiosity and confidence wears off.  Learning slows and the learner’s descent has begun.  

Those with experience know where this is headed - through the trough of despair.  Critically, the trough is only visible from the other side, where mastery resides.

The difference between mastery and a temporal hobby depends on what happens in the trough.  I have left multiple instruments lying untouched for years in the trough.  I wanted to keep sounding better.  I miss when it was rewarding with every note.  

Instead, I sounded worse.  The rush of progress became fickle.  The illusion gave way to disillusionment and I quit.

The only way out of the trough is to plot and inglorious and relentless ascension.  The feeling of being out of tune, offbeat, and frankly, stupid, becomes normal.  It may take 10,000 reps, 10 years, or 10 hour days to make it out of the trough.  

And make no mistake, that is the only way out of the trough.  

All learning follows this pattern.  There are no shortcuts.  

This makes mastery sound daunting.

But don’t worry.  It is also an illusion–the same illusion as before.  

The entire learning journey is fueled by a fantasy.  We imagine mastery as an end-state.  At first, it was an end-state we thought was just around the corner.  Then, from the trough, it became a finish line - where hard work justly pays off.  No matter where we are in the journey, the fantasy keeps us going.

We will wield our knowledge and prowess with ease and accuracy. We will never miss a note.  Riffs will sound practiced and composed.  We will reach mastery.

And the moment we believe in our own mastery, the next illusion has begun.  Novice and mastery share the same confidence and naivety.  They are one in the same.  

The trick is to enjoy the ride.  Indulge in the illusion, and then embrace disillusionment.  Listen to the music when you hear yourself playing it.  Smile at the off-notes as they begin to add up.  And whether wallowing in the trough of despair or storming towards peak naivety – do so humbly. 

You’re just a beginner anyways.

It is all you’ll ever be.