This quote encapsulates the essence of human perception and learning. It suggests that as we encounter new experiences or knowledge, we tend to relate them to what we already know, thereby making them familiar. In contrast, when we re-examine or revisit what’s already known or familiar from a fresh perspective, they often reveal new aspects which were previously unnoticed – hence making the familiar things new again.
The first part of the quote “New things are made familiar” signifies our natural tendency to make sense of unfamiliar situations by drawing parallels with our existing knowledge base. This is essentially how we learn and adapt in life. For example, if you’re learning a new language like Spanish and you already know Italian, you would naturally draw connections between the two due to their Latin roots.
The second part “familiar things are made new” can be seen as an encouragement for us to keep an open mind and continually reassess our understanding of the world around us. Even with something that seems mundane or routine, there might still be unexplored aspects that can offer fresh insights if viewed from a different angle.
In today’s fast-paced world where change is constant and rapid advancements in technology regularly introduce us to novel concepts and tools at work or in daily life – this idea holds significant relevance. By applying this principle, one can better navigate through these changes by associating these novel elements with existing knowledge thereby reducing anxiety associated with change.
In terms of personal development too this idea can be very transformative. Often people get stuck in their ways thinking they fully understand themselves or their circumstances but revisiting those beliefs could lead to self-discovery and growth. For instance revisiting an old hobby could reveal it as a potential career path which was previously overlooked.
Thus Johnson’s wisdom invites us not just towards lifelong learning but also towards maintaining curiosity about ourselves and our surroundings no matter how much we think we’ve learned.
