Read, Write, Act, Connect & Grow

A Mental Model.

Read

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” — George R.R. Martin

I use the word “read” to include listen and watch — basically consume information through the eyes & ears.

When I was young I spent many hours at the library and would check out the maximum number allowed. I remember the day the librarian told my 10-year-old self that 12 books for two weeks were too many books for my age. I persuaded her to give me a chance. I promised I would give her a verbal book report for every book if she doubted that I read them.

As a child, I had thousands of adventures as I traveled the universe by book. I developed my imagination, solved mysteries and became bigger on the inside than my world was on the outside.

My mind was nurtured by curiosity — both piqued and satisfied.

Radio, television and the movie theatre became the playground of my mind with the addition of sound and color, giving shape and voice to the story where my young mind had not yet experienced life.

In the last 20 years with Internet access 24/7, the universe outside my mind is finally catching up with the universe inside my mind.

My life long quest is to always be learning. My physical body is aging but my mind is both youthful and mature.

I have spent all of my life in learning mode. There is so much to know and learn about our fascinating world. One life is too short for all that can be explored. I chose to surround myself by a community of humans who love learning and creating original thoughts while we sojourn on this planet.

I’ve discovered that I am able to reduce the stress and complication of problem solving when I seek information on how others have successfully made decisions or created solutions.

I used to read for entertainment and now I read to include how things work and how include efficient use of time and resources to make decisions and solve problems. Of course, I build on my own body of knowledge but I find tremendous value in learning from others who have gone before me.

I am grateful for all those that have written, communicated and shared their legacy of knowledge and thoughts.

Write

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” — Anaïs Nin

I use the word “write” to include all modes of communication to share learned information that results from the “read” or consumption mode, as well as an original thought that develops from contemplating what I’ve read or consumed. I call this contribution.

There is always someone who is looking to learn from experience and now it is my opportunity to share what I have learned.

Writing is the way of the creative as well as the way of the student. I will always be creating and learning.

Creatively producing content — writing, speaking, and sharing the world from my perspective becomes a catalyst for “original” thought. New discoveries appear in the process of interpreting the problem at hand or demonstrating the discovery of a solution. There is inspiration in receiving feedback.

Consuming information or entertainment is much easier than than making a contribution. Contribution requires self-awareness and self-trust.

Contribution requires that one learns for the sharing and develops a deeper understanding of both topic and of one’s self.

Act

“The secret of life…is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.” — Paulo Coelho, from The Alchemist

Action is where the true value is found in consumption and contribution. Learning from experience requires action.

Taking action allow one to face and overcome fears. Action expands the personal comfort zone and increases the satisfaction of accomplishment.

Action increases the opportunity for failure. The temptation is to only read about solving a problem rather than take action — somehow this seems “safe”.

I have learned to trust failure that comes as a result of taking action. Trust the lesson learned and take redirected action again until the fear is conquered and the highest result has been achieved.

Action develops “muscle”. Physical muscle if the action is physical. Mental and emotional muscle if the action is not physical.

Action in the right direction creates a stronger human and a stronger community of humans.

Connect

“As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.” Marianne Williamson

Self connection and connection with others is the catalyst for becoming “more”.

Understanding and loving one’s self allows for richer connections with others. Self-abandonment creates loneliness and neediness.

Connection with others becomes only consumption without contribution. Relationships by nature cannot support this model. There must be a reciprocal flow in each healthy connection.

Connecting with others in person or virtually is an investment in the richness of life. Learning to see the world through the eyes of others expands our own perception and abilities.

Grow

“You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.” ―Henry David Thoreau

Growth is the result of of this mental model of “Read, Write, Act & Connect”. Internally we expand in knowledge, understanding, mental & emotional well-being, and strength of character. Externally, we have more to offer the community around us.

Thank you for reading my personal mental model. I would love to learn more about your mental model and how you approach life. I’m inviting your inner artist to come out to share, connect and create!

Let me share with you one of my communities of creators:

ILLUMINATION editors:

This is the list of our editors with Medium account names.

Dr Ron Pol, Mary Holden, Dr. David Martin, Paul Myers MBA, Todd Lankford, Gabrieknowseverything, Michael Ritoch, Chris Hedges, Jessica Alfaqih, Karen Madej, Misa Ferreira de Rezende, Blake Lazur, Joe Luca,Shin Jie Yong, Lilycelle Belarmino Ausa, Stella Fidem, Aurora E, Salvatore Cagliari, Will Murphy, Sylvia Love Johnson, Catherine Delia, Snezana Djuric, Aileen Shiue Belitz, Domagoj Vidovic, Tina Morlock, Francesca Brandani, Brenda Mahler, Madoc Maduka, Volo Vash, Shantanu Kulkarni,Lyndsay Landrey, Justin Swenson, Stephen Chapendama, Jill Ebstein, Eliel Cruz, Dipti Pande, Blair Fawcett, Ryan Roghaar, J.D. Harms, Kimi Ceridon (kceridon), Antonio Grasso, Salam Khan, Timothy Key

ILLUMINATION writers:

This is the list of our writers with Medium account names.

Amy Cottreau, Deborah Horton, Michael Ritoch, Anthony Chaine, Todd Lankford, Jennifer Rosater, Brian Lamacraft, Gabrieknowseverything,Jemas Whalen, Tom Byers, Steven Anthony, Chris Hedges, Alexander Cares,Chrissie Morris Brady, Desiree Driesenaar, René Junge, The Mindful Mamacita, Deana Woolf, Bill Abbate, Dawn-Renée Rice, Margie Peterson,Gurpreet Dhariwal, Garrett Elson, Alvin Ang, Matt Ray, Brenda Mahler, Paul Myers MBA, Corrine Roberts, T H Wong, Greg Lawlor, Nicole Linke, Aurora E, Karen Madej, Jessica Alfaqih, Stella Fidem, Julia Tsoi, Mike Alexander,Gregory A ☕️, Shin Jie Yong, Abraham T. Steel, Blake Lazur, Nita Jain,Sebastian Mueller, Snezana Djuric, Aileen Shiue Belitz, Salvatore Cagliari,Isak Dinesen, Joe Luca, Joi Lake, Charlotte VanDerLouis, Catherine Delia,Terry Mansfield, Sylvia Love Johnson, Erwin Lima, Gina Daniel, novalis,Amy Marley, Misa Ferreira de Rezende, Tim Maudlin, Will Murphy, Lilycelle Belarmino Ausa, Akos Peterbencze, Francesca Brandani, GFC: Grown Folk Conversations, Domagoj Vidovic, Dipti Pande, G.R. MELVIN, Tina Morlock,JJ Lim, BSc (Hons), Madoc Maduka, Andrew George, Julia E Hubbel,Impact Aisha, Dean Middleburgh, Markham J Moody, Jill Ebstein, Eliel Cruz, Mary Holden, Bridget Webber, The Wicked Orchard by Sidra Owens,Stephen Chapendama, Lyndsay Landrey, Nicole Dyer, Nicole Dyer, Justin Swenson, Dr. David Martin, Marcus Mehlmauer, Ryan Justin, Deborah Barchi, Jezebel, Renee Rose, Shantanu Kulkarni, Selma, Justin Swenson,Rodney Daut, Volo Vash, Jason Dookeran, Naomi Knight, Blair Fawcett,Pavane Ravel, Dr Ron Pol, Ahmed Jamal, Mesut Felat, Ryan Roghaar, Bre Bitz, Cee A. Davis, George J. Ziogas, Michael Brooks, Rasheed Hooda, Lanu Pitan, Antonio Grasso, Charlotte R Dixon, Lori Brown, R Tsambounieri Talarantas, Matthew Gliatto, Livia Dabs, Kathryn A. LeRoy, Caryn Leach-Smith, Clem Samson, Simran Kankas, Sinem Günel, Helen Boss, Mike Schoenhofer, Ksenia Sein, Arthur G. Hernandez, Max Klein, Kimi Ceridon (kceridon), Daniella Mini, Marlane Ainsworth, Chowa Sekai, Stephen Scott,Farrah Smith, Ananya Agarwal, Salam Khan, Simon Black, Brooke Morrigan, Indra Raj Pathak, Aliff Azhar, Joan Kent, PhD, Yvonne Palmer,Michele Thill, Pamela J. Nikodem, MS, Timothy Key, Melody Campbell,Trista Ainsworth, Mark Oehlert, iWrite!, Annelise Lords, Somsubhra Banerjee, Candy L Hill, Larry Nowicki, 🌲Andrea D’Angelo🌲, Brian E. Wish, M. W. McCabe, Jarrett Wilson, Claire Elaine, Paul Mulliner, Carlos Nunes, P.G. Barnett, İpeksu Durmaz, J.A. Taylor, Brian Abbey,KeepingItRealWithAnnick, Stacey Christiansen, Robert Nelson, Terri DelCampo-Nelson, Kerry Martin, Pasquale Langella, Wolfie Bain, Trapper Sherwood, Dr Rick Dobson, Henery X (long), Darcy Thiel, Emmanuel Prado, Spandrel, Ann K Frailey, Ashish Juneja, CJ Kowalski, John Cousins,Feather🕊tales, Shreya V, -vheretichermit, Gabriela Rosales, Roxanna Azimy, Christina Hoag. Jessica Cote, Emme Beckett, Nikita Vipul, Charles Roast, Eliot Kersgaard, Nivaaz, Lisa Wathen, Stephen Dalton, Dave Lee,Lynette Clements, Erin King, Harshita, Muhammad Zunair, Gena Vazquez,Kira Dawn, JimX, Gerald Gabel, Fiona Sommer, Holly Jahangiri, Holly Catherine, Layane Moura, Harley King, Julián F. Fernández, Julien Mauduit, Solvita Sofi, Steven Allison, Sherry McGuinn, Christine Graves,Emilio Ortiz, Kristen Abram, Drew Spangler aka Orlando Laser Lipo Services, Ugur Akinci, Agnes Louis, Dew Langrial