I’ll tell you why. Many people say that the rest of the world falls away when reading. They forget their problems, and more than that, get to train their attention fully on something of interest. In the book Flow, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi tells us, “Reading requires concentration of attention and has a goal, and to do it one must know the rules of written language” (50). In other words, reading is one of those activities designed to get you into a state of flow. Here’s how:
- You get to choose books appropriate for your skill level.
- Paper books are free of digital distractions, giving you the perfect playground to train your attention over time.
- You set and achieve specific goals like reading 10 pages today.
- You forget about your troubles and personal challenges when you’re deep in a book.
- You’re improving your intellect, empathy, and space of mind which is internally rewarding.
- You’re in control. You can change books, read longer, take notes, etc. You are the master.
- When you’re reading well, time becomes irrelevant.
Reading is so darn enjoyable because it puts you into a state of “Flow.” That’s why I prefer reading in the morning. If I can start my day in flow, that capacity tends to improve everything else that I do.
Until tomorrow, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.
-Eddy
