Why is my emotional state considered a “gatekeeper” for learning?

This is based on the “Affective Filter Hypothesis.” When you are stressed, bored, or self-conscious, your brain literally shuts down its acquisition centers. No matter how good the lesson is, the information cannot get in. This is why “Joy” is a strategic requirement: finding content you genuinely love (like Bahar’s stories) lowers that filter and allows your brain to function at peak performance.