SDL Constitution

While an SDL plan like in The Sea of Knowledge certainly is an excellent start, we all learn differently. We all have preferred strategies and prioritize different parts of the process. Therefore, it’s a great idea to have some sort of guide to remind yourself of the unique way you can engage in self-directed learning. Not only does it help you achieve clarity in difficult situations, but it also ensures your studying is consistent and that you stay true to yourself.

Inspired by the idea of a personal constitution (as well as those for organizations and nations), I’ve developed my own “self-directed learning constitution” to fulfill this purpose. In it, I list my core values, how I will plan and study, when to keep going or take a break, and far more. When I find myself struggling in the sea of knowledge—perhaps I’m drowning in knowledge, attempting to navigate through fog, or failing to stop my own storm of fury—I simply refer to the wisdom of my former self when I might be too emotionally hurt to decide in the moment of difficulty. I’ve found it immensely useful; in fact, even the process of writing it helped me solidify my unique approach to self-directed learning.

I recommend creating your own once you've mastered the basics of self-directed learning. Writing your SDL constitution is actually quite simple; I will write the full explanation on this page once The Sea of Knowledge is published and these resources are finalized.

When this happens, you can use my personal constitution as an example. I will add two versions of it below, which I’ll try to keep updated as I pass more amendments. The first is the normal, modern version (I recommend this one), but if you find yourself inclined towards the original—in which I felt particularly verbose and gave my best attempts at some classical English from the 19th century—then you might want to download the second.

Of course, since everyone’s constitution will be different, these will be here for you to explore and be inspired rather than to adopt as your own. Feel free to take any pieces of mine you like when you write yours.

But no matter how you go about it, an SDL constitution is an excellent tool. Whether you’re a lifelong learner or just starting out, it will make your learning journey feel even more official and exciting.