We can only understand new information, based on our prior level of understanding.

A sometimes misunderstood concept of learning is based on the assumption that if we put new knowledge in, the new knowledge will integrate and consolidate with our existing knowledge. Regardless of the physiological and mental state of the learner and the pre existing beliefs and biases.

We can only understand new information, based on our prior level of understanding. 

That does to some extend apply to the concepts of health and wellbeing. If i have only slept 5 hours a night most of my career, and have been successful while doing it, why would it be beneficial in any way for me to suddenly find 2-3 hours more and dedicate them to doing nothing else but sleeping ? If I haven´t been eating breakfast the last 5 years and been succesful while doing it why on earth would I suddenly begin to change that?

You can do many things that may not be healthy or the most optimal choice, and still be successful.

To learn new things they must be prioritised in the hierarchy of resources. The environment the learning takes place in is important, the perceived outcome is important, the motivations behind, the reward. All is crucial for our engagement. But one thing that we tend to forget is that learning, or our ability to learn is highly influenced by the levels of stress we experience, and the levels of stress we are under are determining the resources we have available.

Learning by fear and punishment happens in large part by involvement of the amygdala and chronic stress, while learning from reward needs to happen in a non stressful environment.

If we expect the employee to pick up learning and pursue new knowledge, we need to focus on the internal and external environment in which the learning happens. How to facilitate and support wellbeing and psychological safety, and allow for the learner to learn in a way that fits their motivational cues. Their sense of self, and their feelings of belonging.

It can take time for the individual to unlearn things, to be able to build the new learnings on a new foundation. But first and foremost we must make sure that well being is on top of our priorities to facilitate and consolidate the new acquired knowledge. And that path is not always straight forward.