It's certainly weird how the brain works when learning a skill like guitar playing. I've learned and forgotten enough complex finger-picking pieces to notice how, when trying to remember, or re-learn a piece, the fingers will remember what to do entirely unconsciously, and when I 'think' about where my fingers are supposed to go, I completely seize up and have no idea what comes next.Anyway, back in the Land of Light now:
There are a bunch of things I could mention, but the regular advice to have patience is certainly one of them. I loved the earlier note about how someone stuck to learning bar chords after Neal mentioning that it might take six months. Because of that, the student didn't give up, and now can play bar chords. I didn't see that lesson, but I love that he gave that advice, and I love that it worked for at least one person.
Along the same lines: A few times (most recently in the news, I think, or maybe it was a recent lesson), Neal has advised learning a technique, such as a new pattern like a roll, by doing it over and over, hundreds of times, while watching TV or something. Once you have it in your fingers, turn your attention slightly away from what you're doing, and let your subconscious mind learn it. Yes! I don't know, by my guess is that most teachers would never advise that. But in certain circumstances, it's perfect.
I've heard other online instructors advise students to practice to the point of muscle memory too; I think once you have mastered a piece to that point, you can concentrate on the subtleties of the performance without thinking about mechanics.