information < perception

I've seen a number of posts where people are asking for pointers on what they are missing.

for better or worse it really just comes down to perception>awareness

and the nature of epiphany:

the person says "why didn't I see that before?!" because they understand that they always had that information

it simply wasn't registering in their perception.

The key to music is understanding how all this stuff relates to each other; 
and life.

and the only way one can understand that is by immersion, pondering and application.

lessons give you stuff in which to immerse in ponder and apply.

there's levels of understanding.

even the masters have shifts in awareness.

the gates only open with persistence.

you have to really want to know.

Every player will continually revisit the basics and look at them in a new way, even after decades. It's not an entirely linear path from beginner to expert. Anders has compared it to going up a mountain. There are ups and downs, switch backs, circle it a few times before you get to the top, etc.

And sometimes another hobby or art form will inform and improve your guitar playing!  

-Carl.