You can’t observe yourself

When you learn a new skill, you are not always aware of how well or poorly you are doing it. You may think you’re doing a good job, especially when it feels like you are moving forward. But you can’t observe yourself, so you need someone else to do it for you. Someone who knows what to look for.

Today I had another swimming lesson, learning the breaststroke. It always looks so simple, but there are many things to be mindful of. How to kick your feet, how to move your arms, how to turn your head. Apparently my head is doing the wrong movement whenever I do a stroke with my arm. My head goes up, when it should turn sideways.

At least, that’s what the instructor told me after he observed me. Myself, I wasn’t aware of it. In the water, I’m mostly focused on my arms, and frankly: on simply getting to the other side of the pool. And I was moving forward, so I thought I was doing alright.

That’s why I’m glad the instructor gave me feedback, even though I didn’t ask for it. He just told me as soon as I arrived in front of him. My head goes up, making my legs go down. Don’t do that. OK!

Knowing what I’m doing wrong is one thing, but changing it is another. It’s damn hard! So many different things to learn for just one skill. But at least now I’m aware of what I should improve. I’ve gone from unconsciously incompetent to consciously incompetent. Progress!