5 REASONS WHY READING IS SO IMPORTANT

5 Reasons Why Reading Is So Important

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”  ― Dr. Seuss

When I was a young girl I did NOT like to read.  In fact, I can only remembering reading one book in its entirety and it was “Grapes of Wrath”.  I was that athlete that used Cliff Notes for everything and had only one thing on my mind….winning the basketball game or rising to my coaches expectations in basketball practice.

However, my parents would continually encourage me to read Zig Ziglar books and they always had motivational and faith based teachings playing around the house.  Eventually, See You At The Top became my hydration drink when I needed to go to the next level.  From Zig Ziglar books, I then took on Norman Vincent Peale, Napoleon Hill and others.  And today, though my first library burned with one of our homes, today, I have countless books that continue to shape who I am today.

Here are 5 reasons why reading is so valuable for growing leaders today.

1.  Shared Mind Space –  When you read another author’s books, you are jumping into their intellect, mind, emotions and creativity and gaining from their LIFETIME of experiences.  It’s a great way to speed up your own base of understanding.  “In all thy getting, get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7
2. Increased Knowledge –  There is so much to gain from a good book, blog or even Google.  Reading the vast knowlege of others is a great way to grow on any topic, especially if you are reading from authors who share your core values.
3. Reset Your Thinking –  If you have ever found yourself in a rut or in a season of transition, reading a good book on a top of personal growth or leadership development can help open your mind to the possibilities beyond your own limitations.
4. Memory Boost – Thanks to developments in neuroscience we are now able to target key learning centers in the brain and identify the areas and neural pathways the brain employs for reading. Just like muscles, the brain benefits from a good workout. And reading is more neurobiologically demanding than processing images or speech.
5. Focus – When reading, you are focused on one thing.  It’s like hitting a pause button for the noise in your brain and training your body and mind to slow down, relax, and be present in the moment.

There are countless other reasons to read but none more important than that of a parent bonding with a child.  Teach them early.  Read to them often.  I thank God that my parents eventually made reading motivational and inspirational materials a part of our family values.  I am the leader I am today because of the books I choose to read.

“Warriors don’t retreat…they reload.”