5 ways reading fosters introspection
So, as you’d probably expect, I’m a pretty big reader. Novels, biographies, beach reads, poetry, how-tos, and self improvement books line my shelves, fill my hands, and open my mind to new perspectives and ideas. Reading is good for the mind and good for the soul, regardless of genre.
Here are 5 reasons why I value reading as a tool to foster my own introspection:
1.) Reading makes me more empathetic. Learning about other time periods, countries, societal expectations, careers, people, cultural norms, faiths, any and everything really, helps to build compassion and empathy. These are qualities I cultivate as I journey along with a character, or feel for the author as I’m reading. It also builds my capacity for compassion and empathy for others as well as for myself.
2.) Reading challenges my beliefs. In a very passive way, reading books with content I disagree with allows me to examine my own values and reaffirm them as true for me, or maybe modify them as a result. It’s something that comes naturally with reading, as my mind is open to the content. It’s not until I come across something that makes me uncomfortable that my beliefs are reaffirmed or shifted. It could be as small as the character doing something I don’t like, or as in-my-face as the political viewpoint of someone I disagree with. It helps me identify what I hold true and value.
3.) Reading helps press pause. When the world around me is moving at the speed of light and I’m running around like crazy trying to check all the boxes while keeping every ball in the air, reading provides a temporary reprieve. It’s quiet. It’s solitary. It’s not on a screen (for me anyway :). It allows my mind to wander through the chapters and away from the to-do list. This pause is so important. It allows time to subconsciously or consciously reassess, recharge, and prioritize.
4.) Reading provides the language I seek. What’s that word? The one that perfectly sums up my emotional state? Reading grows my vocabulary, allowing me to better articulate to myself (and others, if I choose) what’s in my mind and on my heart.
5.) Reading has a natural transition to journaling. The shift from reading to writing is almost effortless. I’ll have to pull out my journal and a pen but other than that, I’m likely already in the mindset. Reading is a quiet, individual activity that fills my mind with words, phrases, scenes, anticipation, and reflection. Journaling is the same, but rather than reading someone else’s story, I’m writing my own.
Recently, I was reading a book that came super highly recommended. My girlfriend raved about it. Said it changed her life. (And she wasn’t the only one! It’s been a bestseller for over a year now!) So, naturally, I got a copy and dove in.
It was good. It had funny anecdotes and relatable content. Totally up my ally. Until I noticed every single chapter had a ton of, “You can do it! Believe in yourself! Don’t give up! Follow your dreams!”. A little cheerleading is wonderful! Long spells of cheerleading in all 20 something chapters? Meh.
All this to say that what you get out of a book will be your own unique experience. What my friend read was exactly what she needed at exactly the right time. It helped her in a way that was real and meaningful in her life. It helped her to determine what she really values and where she wants to dedicate her precious time.
I get similar results from any book I read, sometimes more profound and sometimes less. Fiction, spy thrillers, romances, the biography of Ghandi… they all impart something in me that helps to see the world from a different viewpoint and allows me to question certain values to see if they hold true.
It’s kind of magical.
What have you read lately? What would you add to this list?
