A Recent Challenge That I Set For Myself
I remember vividly that I used to adore reading when I was a kid. In school, my favorite past time was heading to the library and browsing the seemingly endless rows of fiction. Books were a gateway for me to escape to other worlds and bathe my youthful mind with imagination. I believe that books are the reason for my lifelong thirst for knowledge, learning, and growth, all of which directly influenced my character today.
After elementary school, I started to veer away from books. For most people, our teenage years are ones full of self-doubt and exploration. You struggle to identify who “you” really are and that can lead to repressing aspects of yourself to fit in with a more desirable crowd, even if you know deep within yourself that association with them is not conducive to your own development. In my case, it was a mix of not wanting to be that “lame” kid who spends all of his time in the corner of the cafeteria reading (even though I now realize that there nothing wrong with that at all- I’d probably befriend that same kid today) and getting mental fatigue from reading what was required of us in the classroom.
Strangely enough, this period can also the time when the greatest evolution can occur. Discovering who you truly are (or at least partially) is one of the most liberating life experiences that one can have. For me, this was realizing that I wanted to develop myself as richly as I could mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for the rest of my life.
After a few years’ hiatus, I began my return to reading. Nowadays, my shelves are still lined with abstract reading material, albeit more intellectual rather than imaginative. Instead of Percy Jackson, you’ll find Alan Watts. However, I developed an unhealthy habit of continually buying books even when I’ve got 20+ unread ones already waiting (truth be told, it is likely way above 20). Instead of practicing restraint, I find myself giving into immediate gratification when I see a title that piques my interest. Looking at my bookshelf and seeing rows of unopened books staring at me is honestly kind of intimidating, and perhaps it’s the reason why I’ve been so put off from reading them (paradoxical, I know).
I am really trying to put in an effort of eliminating this custom of mine, so I’ve set a goal for myself of finishing five books by the end of the year. It may not sound like much, but it is a reasonable aim that I feel aligns with my own reading habits. The secondary goal to help me accomplish the main one is to read for at least 20-30 minutes daily. Again, it is important to start small and not overwhelm yourself with massive expectations when making personal resolutions.
Last month, I created a document that I use to keep track of books that I’ve completed. So far, the count is three (The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, The Gospel According to Zen by Robert Sohl and Audrey Carr, and the Tao Te Ching, if you’re interested). At the moment, I am hopping between three different books. I’m not sure if this is the most effective way to read, but it helps me to alleviate the monotony that can accompany reading a single title.
With 53 days left in the year as of publishing this, I’ve definitely got my work cut out for me. If you’re like me and are trying to get back into a consistent reading habit, or even just someone who is already an avid reader, I would encourage you to also set a goal for yourself to read X books in Y time. You’ll nourish your mind and engage your inner creative and imaginative processes.
Additional Resources
My book list has a few titles that I particularly recommend*. The list is ever-growing, so check back once in a while!
Loyal Books is a website where you can listen to a multitude of audiobooks free of charge.
A video by John Fish, a creator on reading, productivity, and growth. Here, he talks about how reading on a weekly basis is life-changing.
*These are Amazon affiliate links, which means that I receive a small commission from your purchase at no extra cost to you. Please consider using these links if you are buying anything at all from Amazon!
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