How a Consistent Reading Schedule Gave Me Strength to Handle Life
Consistency is the key to emotional stability.
You have heard it.
Over and over again!
Read.
I am not about to write a thousand-word article on the various benefits of reading.
Well, not right now anyway!
My goal with this piece is to share some thoughts on what happens when a consistent reading schedule is maintained.
My personal story.
Contrary to pretty much everyone in my immediate circle of friends and family, I truly enjoyed reading ever since childhood. You can chart it down to my introvert personality or my lack of social skills as a teenager.
Either way, I loved the idea of gathering knowledge — not to become a walking encyclopedia, but to understand the crazy world that I was trying so hard to make sense of.
Growing up, my family moved a few times — to completely different cities.
That meant I had to make new friends and start afresh in a new school every few years. It was devastating. Although looking back right now I realize that it taught me social interaction skills that are coming in very handy as an adult.
I began to like books because they never sniggered at me or judged me
After a hard day of trying to fit into a new environment, I looked forward to coming home and continuing the book from the previous night. I craved that consistency; that familiarity. I would get lost in the stories and learn from the characters about how they were handling life.
The time with my books and the stories was something that became a norm throughout my teenage years. It was not an emotional crutch by any means. It was a genuine self-care time that allowed my brain to get some perspective, process what really happened, and move on.
During high school years, my reading included a lot more non-fiction. Mainly to understand more clearly what I was learning in the sciences at school.
I began to like books because they never sniggered at me for saying things that made me sound uncool.
Books never judged me if I asked a stupid question. They never got tired of explaining something to me if I took too long to understand. Most importantly, I allowed these inanimate life-changing devices to help me grow personally.
Today, as an adult and an engineering professional I still take the time to read on any little topic that can help me understand my world just a little better.
I read about technology. I read about personal finance. I read about relationships and leadership. I even read a poem sometimes!
It doesn’t matter what the subject of reading is. As long as I have the ability and the willingness to read I will take some time out and add value to my own life.
The emotional stability that reading brought me during my formative years is proof that reading in my adult life has more advantages than immediately visible.
The consistency that the brain begins to expect allows us to experience rewards that are more valuable than the actual content of your reading.
Consider it a meditative experience!