How often do you think about how helpful reading really is? I’m sure you feel good when you read something that resonates with you, but do you ever wonder why?
Don’t be surprised, but I have a list for you. If you think you don’t have enough time to read, maybe this list will help you find some time to do it. Depending on your preferences, you can read anything, but self-help books will probably have the biggest impact.
- Reading enriches your vocabulary
“So what?” you might say. “I don’t need a vocabulary! I need a better life!” Well, a bigger vocabulary helps you be more specific in your speech so you’ll communicate better with others and also with yourself. I’m sure you’ve noticed how many problems communication cause and they would be solved if people would really and truly communicate with each other.
- Through reading you can find brilliant ideas
What is an idea? It’s a new way to connect certain dots that might seem isolated. So the more you know, the more you can connect. This is why experts are seen as leaders in their fields and they are the first people contacted when a problem occurs. They know more so they have a bigger awareness, therefore they can have more and better ideas.
- Reading brings you a cathartic experience
Have you ever read a story that you could swear it was written based on your life? Well, I have and it felt liberating. You might feel stuck in your own life, but if you see that someone else has almost the same difficulties as you have, you won’t feel alone anymore. Furthermore, you’ll see that someone like you can turn out ok in life. Of course, it takes a lot of digging until you can find such a book/article.
- You can find a different perspective
Some books or articles can bring clarity over some areas you never thought of. Maybe you thought there is only one way to do something and through reading you can find out there are 5 other ways; some might be even simpler.
- Reading gives you access to other people’s mindset
This is one of the most important parts, I think. Maybe you don’t have the required amount of money to have mentors or maybe you don’t have enough time for that, but you surely can find the time for 5 pages from a book written by someone you admire. The more you surround yourself with successful mindsets and ideas, the more you’ll be able to grow.
- Reading is a cheaper way to travel
And you can travel everywhere and anywhere! Even back in time! You can take advices from great people that are now dead, you can be part of famous battles or you can live a French love story back in the 60’s. It’s just a matter of choice.
- It’s a way to keep your brain-muscles trained
You might laugh at this one, but I think you know that neurons that fire up together tend to create stronger connections, called neural paths. So the more you read, the more you fire up the same neurons over and over again. If you don’t do it constantly, the connections will get weaker and they will eventually break because of lack of training.
There are reasons for doing everything and I believe we need to specify as much as we can the positive ones because the negatives will come uninvited.
What are your reasons for reading?
Nice post.. And reading also reduces the stress level..make us calm and help us to recall more 😊
I haven’t thought about reading as a way to reduce stress, but you’re totally right! Reading is peaceful and that transfers into us.
My reasons for reading is just to enjoy and travel through the writers mind 😊
That’s great! Who’s mind you found the most interesting so far?
Ruskin Bond. 😊
Aside from widening my vocabulary as you pointed out… Reading also exposes me to various writing styles which can help me shape and mould my own writing style 😊
That’s right! Through reading we can pick up what we like and we can leave behind what we don’t like from a writing style perspective. 🙂
Exactly! Couldn’t have said it better myself. You really do have a way with words😊
Thank you very much for your kind words! 🙂
A cheaper way of traveling is good, too.
Yes, it is! 😀
I read because it is a small effort way to pass the time. However due to the nature of technological advances in industry, the literacy levels in each successive generation have also declined. Instead of complaining about what kids do, don’t or should do, I think it would be good to talk about the practice of reading, as well as the alternatives available out there which support the core conceptual purpose of “recording knowledge able to be shared later”. It’s communication, like you’ve said. Audiobooks, discussion, or representation of ideas to accommodate those with the willingness to learn but struggle due to their low literacy skills.
I guess it all comes down to the willingness to grow. Podcasts can provide the information (even though the benefits are not quite the same as reading), but without the desire to watch them, it useless.
That’s right. Any source of information not being utilised is essentially useless. Such is the idiom “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.”
There is no real substitute for reading nor writing, and it is definitely something that should be encouraged.
A well-written post! My main reason for reading is number 5: gives me access to other people’s mindset. While I was reading books by Donald Trump and other people that I admire, I’m thrilled to know how they think things through and starting to apply some of the principles in my life.
Thank you for reading! Taking and applying the winning principles will make us winners in life 🙂
Reading is a huge part of my life. I love to lose myself in a book. I’m convinced reading helps writing, and writing is what I do!
Reading definitely helps writing and many successful writers talk about this! 🙂
Preaching to the choir my friend.
Still though, it always makes me feel good to know that my hobbies and habits are healthy.
Keep being awesome!
Thank you very much for reading and for your kind words! <3
I have to agree with what you said in here but I still haven’t experienced the others like finding a story with the same flow as my life’s. Thank you for this!
Thank you for reading! I’m sure you’ll encounter that experience as well 🙂
Reading relaxes me and lets me escape from real life for a moment. 😉
Yes, it really does! What genres do you like to read?
Generally fiction. I have a special interest in historical fiction. How about you?
I mostly go with nonfiction due to the nature of this blog and my other writings 🙂
Very good post and I truely enjoyed reading it.
Without doubt reading is joy and to experience that joy requires effort. So happines and joy are byproduct. You cannot achieve them by chasing after them, but you can experience them after overcoming some challenges.
And I would like to add along everything raised here, which are very valuable points indeed, that reading is a thought discipline and building that and to absorbe more information require physical discipline. And by combining the two, only then can we experience true personal developments and happiness.
Happy reading and exercising
Abdifatah
I love reading alot !!! 😍 I do read alot like a hell lot … but I read on wattpad ‘cus I can’t buy alot of books every month 😂😂