Learning and Doing

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only. –St. James

There’s a difference between knowing what to do, and actually applying that knowledge. Knowing is a fundamental step, but it’s not enough in itself—doing something with that knowledge is ultimately what matters.

For instance, suppose I wanted to be healthier, and I studied and learned what foods I should be eating and which ones I should avoid. Even if I knew everything about the subject, unless I actually allowed my eating habits to be shaped by my knowledge, my learning wouldn’t have helped me toward my goal. Or, if there was a relational conflict, and I sought advice, and came to a place where I knew what I should say or do, but never actually did anything, my knowledge would be functionally worthless.

Knowing what to do is important—but doing something with what we learn is even more so.