Why Daily Reading is the Key to Unlocking Your Full Potential

The worst decision you could ever make is to remain where you are—at the bottom.

I mean, think about it for a second.

It is either you are going up or you are going down. The difference is the actions that happen on both sides of the divide.

It’s sad that people, especially young people, no longer value the importance of reading.

Let me tell you a short story of my experience growing up as a child.

When I was a child, my mom always made me read at least one chapter of a novel when I returned from school. She bought many books for me, and after lunch, she encouraged me to read.

First, she would make me review my schoolwork and ensure I completed my assignments. Then, she would urge me to read at least one chapter from the novels I owned.

Back then, I didn’t really understand why she was doing all that. However, one of the apparent results I saw was that I was brilliant in school.

I was usually the best in my class, with my positions usually around first, second, and third.

The only time I took seventh in class was when I was in primary three, first term. I remember how my mom beat me for taking the seventh position because it was unlike me. In the subsequent terms, I came out first in my class.

I used to wonder why my mom always wanted me to read, but I soon realized how much joy reading brings me.

I enjoyed delving into those stories from the novels, endeavoring to connect with the vivid imagery the author sought to convey.

Fast-forward to today, and I now understand the benefits of cultivating the habit of reading because I have maintained that habit.

The Problem

I have realized that people shy away from this habit called reading.

But why?

Is it because of how our educational systems are structured?

Schools probably made you hate reading. And thus, it made you hate learning.

“If you hate learning, it’s safe to say that you have lost a lot of zest for life. Learning is a fundamental human drive.” – Dan Koe

Reading is very important if you want to be successful in whatever you do, whether in business, your career, your organization, or even as a leader.

Why you should read

If you want to build a fulfilling career, cultivate better relationships, enhance your intelligence, rediscover life’s depth, and slow down in this busy, distracted world… Read.

If you need a reason to read, here are some reasons. These reasons were part of Dan Koe’s recent blog I read, and I’m sharing them because they resonate with my current reality.

• Reading is how you acquire new knowledge.
• Reading is how you expand your worldview.
• Reading is how you spot new opportunities.
• Reading is how you train your focus.
• Reading is how you absorb 10 years of experience in 8 hours.

Reading exposes you to the wisdom of others. You don’t need to go through the mistakes that people go through before you can learn from them.

You’re free to simply read books and learn from the experiences and wisdom of others, using this knowledge to improve your life and the challenges you’re currently facing.

You sometimes experience an “AHA” moment when you read a good book.

You get solutions to problems you have been facing in your life. You feel and see the missing dots connecting.

As humans, we are constantly driven by our life goals, which guide our actions and decisions.

Education helps us to achieve these goals, and true education is about curiosity and discovery; this is what you get from reading.

The brain is malleable. The more you stretch it, the more it expands. You can only stretch this area of your brain by cultivating the habit of reading.

When you read, you are curious, you encounter new ideas, you challenge your current knowledge, you understand the way people think, and you are open to different perspectives of life.

These things ultimately build you as a human being because you tap wisdom from different people, different people from different backgrounds, different educational levels, and so on.

How do I improve?

Despite placing great importance on physical health, mental health is often overlooked by many.

The first step is recognizing and accepting that your mental well-being is just as crucial as your physical health.

The gateway to your reality is your mind.

You’re not where you want to be because you struggle to carry the mental load required to get there.

Read more books that challenge your current beliefs and perspectives. As Jim Rohn said:

“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.”

Find a library nearby, borrow or buy books (consider used ones for lower prices), and connect with fellow book lovers.

We form habits through our daily actions. If you want reading to become a habit, you must do it daily.

Whenever you feel bored, pick up a book instead of reaching for your phone.

Read a chapter, do some research, and learn about things that pique your curiosity.

You cannot grow if you are not a reader. Readers are leaders.

The great scholars and philosophers we know today read a lot. They were curious about how the world works, and it was from their curiosity that many ideas and inventions were born.

If those people were not readers, I don’t know if we would be where we are today in civilization and technology.

If you aspire to leave your mark on history, begin as a reader. Your mind might conceive an idea that will change the world.

Thank you for reading.

Have a lovely week.

– Destiny