How an Open Mind Can Break Through Barriers and Lead to Mastery

In a world where learning new skills has become more accessible than ever, the real challenge often isn’t in finding resources but in letting go of preconceived notions that hold us back from fully embracing the experience. Whether it’s trying your hand at a new craft, diving into a different culture, or picking up a hobby you’ve always been curious about, the journey to mastery can be unexpectedly complicated—not by the skill itself but by the mental baggage we carry into the process.

Today, we’ll dive deep into the story of one person’s first experience in a handicraft class and how their preconceived notions, or prejudices, nearly blocked the true joy and learning of the experience. Along the way, we’ll explore why strict guidance, an open mind, and the courage to challenge your assumptions are all key to unlocking your potential and ultimately, creating something uniquely your own.

The Classroom: A New Beginning Full of Unknowns

The story starts, as many new journeys do, in a classroom. It’s the first session of a handicraft class, scheduled from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.—four hours of intense learning and crafting. Our narrator is filled with excitement, ready to embark on this new path but also carrying a bit of nervousness. After all, learning a new skill can be intimidating, especially when you’re walking into a space where everyone’s expectations, including your own, can be wildly different from reality.

Classrooms are often seen as safe spaces for exploration, where curiosity meets structure. But they also come with a lot of expectations—both from students and teachers. For the narrator, this particular class wasn’t just about learning how to make something with their hands. It became an unexpected lesson in patience, humility, and unlearning their own assumptions about how the process would unfold.

The Teacher: Strict but Fair, A Guide to the Unknown

In this class, the teacher played a crucial role, as most great educators do. But what stood out wasn’t just the craft knowledge they shared—it was their demeanor. The teacher was strict, someone who clearly valued discipline and precision. For someone used to working in a job without much direct supervision or critical oversight, this kind of structure was a bit of a shock for the narrator. They weren’t used to someone being so hands-on and involved in correcting mistakes.

But as the class went on, they realized that this strictness was paired with a deep sense of care and wisdom. The teacher’s firm corrections weren’t about ego or control; they were there to ensure that each student mastered the basics before moving on to more creative or personal expressions of the craft. The teacher’s background—having studied both American and Japanese cultures—brought a richness to the class. This fusion of perspectives allowed for a teaching style that was both traditional and forward-thinking, giving students a structured environment in which they could later break free and innovate.

The Trap of Preconceived Notions: How Bias Hinders Learning

Going into any new experience, we tend to bring along some baggage. Whether it’s something we’ve heard, read, or assumed, we often create mental images of what a new experience will be like. For the narrator, this was especially true. They had done their homework, read up on the craft, and even gathered some second-hand accounts of what to expect in class. Armed with this information, they thought they had a pretty good idea of what their first session would look like.

But the moment they stepped into that classroom, reality clashed with their expectations. The teacher’s approach was different from what they had imagined, the atmosphere wasn’t exactly what they’d been led to believe, and the process of learning the craft was far more intricate and challenging than anticipated. It was a classic case of prejudice—not in the social or cultural sense but in the form of pre-judging the experience before fully engaging with it.

This led to a moment of self-awareness: how often do we block ourselves from truly learning by bringing preconceived ideas to the table? Whether it’s something as simple as a craft class or something as profound as immersing ourselves in a new culture, these assumptions can be a significant barrier to fully absorbing and appreciating the experience in front of us.

The “Blank Canvas” Mindset: Learning Without Prejudice

What the narrator discovered through this experience was the power of what we might call the “blank canvas” mindset. Just like a painter approaches a blank canvas with endless possibilities, a learner must approach new experiences with an open mind, free from assumptions, prejudices, and second-hand information.

In this handicraft class, it became clear that starting from scratch—mentally—was the only way to fully grasp the complexities and joys of the new skill. By discarding their preconceived ideas about the teacher, the process, and the class itself, the narrator opened themselves up to a much more profound learning experience. They could engage with the teacher’s strict yet caring guidance, appreciate the nuances of the craft, and start building the foundation they needed to eventually express their own creativity.

The Importance of Guidance: Why Strict Teachers Can Be the Best Teachers

One of the most surprising realizations for the narrator was how much they appreciated the teacher’s strictness. In today’s world, where we often shy away from criticism or seek only positive reinforcement, it’s easy to forget that the hardest lessons often come from the toughest teachers. The teacher in this handicraft class wasn’t just there to offer tips or suggestions—they were there to push the students toward mastery.

In many learning environments, especially in workplaces or adult learning settings, feedback can be minimal or overly gentle. People are often hesitant to criticize, fearing it may discourage someone. But this class was different. The teacher didn’t hesitate to point out mistakes, to demand more precision, or to correct even the smallest misstep. And far from discouraging the narrator, this approach helped them realize the value of criticism in the learning process. It’s through these corrections, after all, that real improvement happens.

This brings to mind a broader lesson about learning in general: the people who push us the hardest, who hold us to higher standards, often become the ones we learn the most from. It’s easy to dismiss strict teachers as harsh or overly critical, but they play an essential role in shaping our skills and guiding us to a higher level of competence.

The Japanese Approach to Mastery: Protect, Break, Leave

As the class continued, the teacher introduced a concept deeply rooted in Japanese philosophy: the three stages of mastery—protect, break, and leave. This is an idea that can be applied to learning almost any skill or craft and involves three distinct phases:

Protect (守 - Shu): In this phase, the learner must focus on following the teacher’s instructions and methods exactly. There’s no room for improvisation or deviation. The goal is to protect the integrity of the tradition or technique being taught.
Break (破 - Ha): Once the basics are mastered, the learner enters the “break” phase, where they start to challenge and adapt the techniques. This phase encourages creativity, allowing the learner to begin making the craft their own.
Leave (離 - Ri): In the final stage, the learner has absorbed the teachings so thoroughly that they can leave the original methods behind and create something entirely unique. This is the point of true mastery, where the student becomes the master, contributing something new to the tradition.

For the narrator, this concept perfectly encapsulated their own journey in the handicraft class. In the beginning, they had to let go of their assumptions and simply follow the teacher’s guidance. But as they progressed, they began to see how they could bring their own creativity and personality into the craft. The ultimate goal, of course, was to leave the class not just as someone who had learned a few techniques but as someone capable of creating something new, something entirely their own.

Learning Beyond the Classroom: How Prejudices Shape Cultural Understanding

The lessons from this handicraft class didn’t stop at just learning a new skill. The experience also made the narrator reflect on how preconceived notions shape the way we engage with the world, especially when it comes to culture. The narrator, having lived abroad, shared how their early impressions of Americans—based on what they had seen in movies and media—had painted an incomplete picture.

They initially thought Americans were universally friendly, open, and romantic—but living in the U.S. quickly showed them that, like all people, Americans are diverse and complex, and not everyone fits into the neat categories we might have imagined. This realization reinforced the importance of experiencing things firsthand and not relying too heavily on stereotypes or second-hand information.

A Call to Action: Embrace Learning with an Open Mind

At the end of the day, this story about a handicraft class is really about the broader art of learning. Whether it’s picking up a new skill, immersing yourself in a different culture, or trying something you’ve never done before, the key to real learning is letting go of your assumptions. Prejudice, in any form, limits our ability to grow. When we approach new experiences with a blank slate, ready to absorb, listen, and adapt, we unlock the true potential of learning.

So, what can we take away from this story? First, that strict guidance, while sometimes uncomfortable, is invaluable. Second, that the blank canvas mindset—coming into any new experience without preconceived notions—is the best way to truly learn. And

finally, that mastery, whether in art, craft, or life, comes not from rigid adherence to rules but from knowing when to break free and create something new.

Wherever you are in your learning journey, remember that it’s not just about the destination. The process, the corrections, the challenges—they’re all part of what makes learning so rewarding. Embrace it with an open mind, and you’ll find that the joy of mastery lies not just in the end result but in the path you take to get there.