Learning as a cognitive tantrum

If learning is shaking up what I already know, and changing my perspective from what it used to be:

Then learning feels like a cognitive tantrum.

There is a part of me that wants to remain the same. That wants to go with what we know. Some neural pathways are fast, cheap, and can jump to conclusions. With low effort from the brain.

And that part throws a tantrum.

Allowing another part to step in and gently expend more and more energy. This part both attend to the tantrum and slowly (so very slowly) make sense of what is causing it.

There is great joy in expending this energy, learning, and expanding my perspective: It will never be pleasant.

Which is how I know that I am truly, learning something.