Earlier this year I pulled up a note on my phone and wrote down a list of topics I thought would be neat to dig into. Most of them, I knew next to nothing about, and that's the point. A seed of interest is all that's needed to fuel a greater curiosity.
I've jumped into a lot of fields without guidance or formal training, so here are some steps I've found that can guide an otherwise blind grasp into something new and both terrifying and tantalizing.
First, be okay with beginner materials. If this is a skill you want, pick up that for dummies book. Go to that beginner course with preteens and kids. If its knowledge, have no shame picking up a brightly colored pamphlet or something with an accessible title. When a novice, there's no one to impress. There's nowhere to go but up, when starting at the bottom.
Second, look at familiar mediums with content about this new subject. If you listen to podcasts, look for some on your new subjects. If you read a ton, look for books. If you have a course membership, find courses. If you follow blogs, look for some of those! If you already have an information stream that works for you, include your new subject in it. It helps put that information in your regular stream of input.
Third, keep a record of things you learn about the field as a whole. Focus less on the sharp, specific details that can bog down a beginner. They'll come up over and over again, if they're important.
Fourth, and this should probably be first, don't be afraid to not know the answer. If it feels like you're missing something, you probably are, but how are you supposed to know what you're missing when you're just starting?
Folks ok with regularly dunking in newbie waters, I've found, are some of the most enjoyable people around.
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