This blog post is AI-generated by Claude and inspired by the original PolyTripper video linked below.
Hi Language Buddy!
I hope you had a productive week. Today I want to tackle something that's hard to articulate, but I'll start with a personal example to illustrate the point.
I've been learning Russian for over a year now. While a year might seem like a long time to some people, I'm actually proud that I've stuck with it and, as I've mentioned in previous videos, I can now have my lessons completely in Russian.
Russian has always intrigued me my entire life, but I never took the time to learn it. When I looked at Cyrillic characters, it was basically like hieroglyphics to me. I used to think, "Wow, there are people who can actually understand that, speak the language, and comprehend what speakers are saying."
Here's what strikes me: there's been a much bigger portion of my life spent with that mental image of myself as someone who "doesn't know Russian" than the portion where I can actually read simple Russian texts and understand basic conversations.
I've gone far past the point where I ever thought I would go with Russian. Yet there's part of me that still experiences that negative self-talk: "I don't know this" or "I'm bad at this." I have a hard time internalizing that these thoughts aren't applicable anymore.
Sometimes when I'm speaking Russian, Portuguese, or Swedish, I step outside myself and think, "I shouldn't know this. I shouldn't be able to do this."
It's amazing how quickly negative self-talk and limiting beliefs can be banished in practice—often in a very short amount of time compared to how long you've held the belief that you don't know something or can't do something.
I've spent my whole lifetime thinking "I don't know Russian," and now I'm at an advanced beginner or lower intermediate level. The transformation happened relatively quickly, but my self-image is still catching up.
Research helps explain this phenomenon:
Neural plasticity studies: Dr. Michael Merzenich's research shows that while the brain can rapidly acquire new skills, updating self-concept takes longer due to deeply ingrained neural pathways.
Cognitive dissonance theory: Leon Festinger's work explains why we experience discomfort when our abilities outpace our self-image, leading to the "I shouldn't know this" feeling.
Implicit learning research: Studies show that procedural knowledge (like language skills) often develops faster than declarative knowledge (conscious awareness of what we know).
Identity lag phenomenon: Psychological research demonstrates that identity changes typically trail behavioral changes by months or even years.
Several factors make limiting beliefs stick around even after we've disproven them:
Repetition strengthens neural pathways: Decades of thinking "I can't do this" create strong mental patterns.
Confirmation bias: We notice evidence that supports old beliefs while discounting contradictory evidence.
Safety in familiarity: Our old self-concept feels safer and more predictable than acknowledging growth.
Imposter syndrome: Success can feel unearned or temporary, making us question our new abilities.
This isn't unique to language learning. It happens in:
Career transitions: People promoted to management roles often struggle to see themselves as leaders.
Physical fitness: Someone who loses weight may still see themselves as overweight.
Academic achievement: Students from disadvantaged backgrounds may struggle to accept their intelligence even after academic success.
Creative pursuits: Amateur artists often can't recognize when they've achieved professional-level skills.
Understanding this phenomenon helps us navigate it more effectively:
Expect the discomfort: That weird feeling of "I shouldn't know this" is normal during skill acquisition.
Document progress: Keep records of your achievements to counter your brain's tendency to minimize growth.
Practice new self-talk: Consciously update your internal narrative to match your current abilities.
Seek external validation: Teachers and conversation partners can help you recognize progress you can't see yourself.
Here's how to help your self-concept catch up with your abilities:
Regular assessment: Periodically evaluate what you can do now versus six months ago.
Celebrate milestones: Acknowledge achievements, even if they feel "small" to you.
Reframe comparison: Compare yourself to your past self, not to native speakers or advanced learners.
Practice ownership: Say "I speak Russian" rather than "I'm learning Russian" once you've achieved basic conversational ability.
Remember how Cyrillic looked like hieroglyphics to me? Now those same symbols convey meaning automatically. This transformation happened through consistent practice, but my brain sometimes still marvels that I can decode those "mysterious" characters.
This illustrates how quickly the "impossible" can become routine with systematic effort.
The key insight is this: your limiting beliefs about what you "can't" do are often based on outdated information about yourself. These beliefs can be remarkably persistent, but they can also be updated much faster than you might expect.
The gap between "I could never learn Russian" and "I conduct lessons in Russian" was bridged in just one year of consistent practice.
If you're holding onto beliefs like:
• "I'm bad at languages"
• "I could never learn [target language]"
• "I'm too old to learn"
• "I don't have the talent for this"
Remember that these beliefs are provisional, not permanent. With consistent effort and proper methods, they can be dismantled faster than you might imagine.
Your self-image will eventually catch up to your growing abilities, but don't wait for it. Start practicing now, and let your results speak louder than your doubts.
That's my somewhat clumsy attempt to articulate this phenomenon. The main point: not knowing something can be banished in practice much more quickly than you'd expect.
Take care, and I'll see you next week!
