I love reading – always have, always will! Little did I know as I walked around the playground with my head stuck in a book at the age of nine, what treasures that process was going to unlock for me in later life. With an innate sense of curiosity fuelling my imagination, I could escape to another place (nod to Anthony Gormley) pretty much whenever I wanted. To this day, I still prefer a good book (or the radio) to TV, as it allows me to use my imagination and perhaps fire up what brainpower I have left in a self-sustaining way, for which I am very grateful!
Discovering the joy of reading
However, as a successful coach these days, and one who is always encouraging people to read, I’m only too aware that for very good reasons not everyone has access to reading in the same way that I do. Sadly, there are parents who don’t recognise the value of reading, homes where no written words are available and children are traumatised by Covid, living in the brittle world of today, where greater pressures and worries occupy young minds in a depressingly negative way. As a grandfather, this issue is pointed up to me every time my two-year-old grandson backs himself eagerly onto my lap to read a book, which has only basic words and pictures in, and yet he has fallen head over heels in love with the whole business of reading.
Harnessing the power of curiosity
Through my coaching I have learnt the power of curiosity as a path which can lead to greater self-awareness and self-confidence. I’m acutely aware that reading offers much more than a mere escape or adventure – it can breed confidence in itself and combat feelings of depression in adults and children alike. And of course, it’s never too late to start, which is why initiatives like National Reading Year, which we’re in the middle of right now, are so valuable. It only takes a spark to get someone involved and then, with luck and a bit of support from others, the book can repeatedly do its magic and build a taste for an ongoing source of spiritual nourishment.
Burying your head
For some, it’s tempting to believe that burying your head in a book can be isolating or antisocial in some way. If you’re looking for a way to avoid the pain of getting started or the effort involved in overcoming natural inertia, then that can be a compelling line of reasoning. My suggestion for that issue would be a membership of a good book club. If you can find a suitable forum, you will be able to sustain your interest more easily. It will also work on your natural reluctance to entertain other people’s view of what you might regard as your own and practice putting your thoughts into words – always a valuable skill for anyone to perfect and one which will increase the value of the book a hundredfold.
I have just finished reading The Chimp Paradox: The mind management programme to help you achieve success, confidence and happiness by Professor Steve Peters, which I would highly recommend. Check out some of my business book recommendations here: https://barnhillconsulting.co.uk/my-reading-list/
Happy reading!