- is life long
- is personal
- is relational and social
- happens in the learner
- is innate
- is motivational
- builds on existing skills and knowledge
- is about making connections
- is both planned and spontaneous
- is intellectual
- is intuitive
- is complex
- is ongoing
- is about human growth and change
- is emotional
- is shaped by context
- is individual
- takes time
- is dynamic
- engages the learner
- involves learning how to learn
- involves risk-taking and resilience
- is the search for meaning