I'm at a quite interesting stage in my development, having an idea about openings and working out development and middlegame and knowing how to checkmate were I to reach that position.

I find it next impossible to sit down with the intent to digest and understand something. I couldn't say to myself, for example, I'm going to learn a certain opening and dilligently read a chapter or watch a video on it.

The best I can do is go about learning in a passive way as a pastime and then a month or so down the road I've got something under my belt.

Also my brain gets overloaded.  I have occassional games with a master and it's worth a chuckle because a few moves in, if he's pointed out the reasoning behind a move or described a position within minutes I feel as if I've read a dictionary.

Anyone agree or sympathize with this whether you'rw in the position or from what you remember from when you were becoming decent at chess?

Another thing is the discrepancy between learning complicated chess along with the basics.

For example, if you were striving to get better and studying grandmaster games but were weak at some principles.

I think the trick is to put the competitive streak aside as best you can and learn through losing, repetition and studying things that don't have a direct application, hoping for a better day.

I'm great at whatever I do, so undoubtedly I'll be great at chess one day, I'm just seeing that it will take awhile.