The pleasure of lifelong learning.

P leasure is not a word usually used to describe the intense academic effort of medical school, but learning and expanding one's mind does bring pleasure: " a gratification of the mind; or as the excitement, relish, or happiness produced by enjoyment; a thing which gives delight and satisfaction; or that which pleases. " 1 At times, in each of our careers, we believe that our knowledge of medicine is at its peak. But only with a lifelong commitment to learning do we grow and develop a capacity to integrate our knowledge, skills, and attitudes. And, if we are lucky, we gain wisdom and humility, the ability to see the whole picture and incorporate our experience into the big picture, and arrive at a global insight into our disciplines that can only be derived from years of experience and careful mentoring and learning from colleagues. In the active learning process needed to find and maintain competence, you will also find the pleasure of learning. ::: What are the pleasurable attributes of lifelong learning? Be curious: Your curiosity got you here and will lead you on. Don't put it aside because of the daily pressures of your job. Satisfying your curiosity can add zest to your life. Think about these suggestions for enhancing your appreciation for lifelong learning. Have integrity: The honest recognition of what you know, what you don't know, and what you need to find out will help you in your interactions with patients, parents, grandparents, nurses, colleagues, and other members of the health care team. The gratification of knowing what you need to know or finding it out if you don't know are part of the pleasure of learning. Discover your learning style: Some of us learn from grand rounds, some from tapes, some from reading journals, some from reviewing journal articles, some from CME courses. You can learn in a library, a hospital auditorium, at a microscope, by perusing PubMed or Google in your office, home, or on an airplane. You are free to choose to learn by whatever works best for you. Finding your own learning style is a discovery, a delight, and provides you with a learning tool for all your adult life. Acquire and evaluate information and learn about informatics: Knowledge in medicine is ever-expanding. This is one of the reasons for lifelong learning. We can no longer base our decisions on our own …