"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers."

Charles William Eliot

In these times of self-isolation, self quarantine and social distancing reading can be a source of comfort, engagement, learning, growth, entertainment and escape. Books allow you to make connections with the quietest and most constant of friends, the wisest of counselors and the most patient of teachers without violating any of the social distancing recommendations.

I am not talking about getting caught up reading the constant streams of doom and gloom on your phone. I am talking about sitting down with one of those well written non-fiction books sitting in your virtual library or on your bookshelf, or picking up a great novel and sitting down to some quality reading. 

“Reading is like a software update for your brain.” 

James Clear

Read just 10 minutes every day from a non-fiction book and you will read at least 10 books a year. Read an hour a day from a non-fiction book and you will read at least one a week. 

For me 90 to 95 percent of the books I read in a year are non-fiction. My dad, who is a voracious reader, always used to ask me what I was reading and if I was reading for work or for pleasure. My answer to the “reading for work or pleasure” question was always yes to both. All the non-fiction books I read, I read for learning and growth. I read them to tap into the wisdom and experience of others and to gain a deeper understanding of topics of interest to me. I read them to challenge my thinking and assumptions. I read them to continually remind me of how much I do not know and still have yet to learn. I read them to create new connections to what I already know. I am continually seeking ways to apply that learning to my work. For me, that is a pleasurable experience. Every few months I hit a point where I need to read a fiction book from one of my go to fiction authors and that is a pleasurable experience as well. Now my dad simply asks, “What are you reading?”

These are challenging and uncertain times. For those of you in health care, first responders and others (Thank you to all of you for your service.), you may have very little or no free time. For others of us, we find ourselves with a lot of free time. It is easy to get caught up watching the 24 hour news coverage or get drawn into the social media rabbit hole. If you have free time then be sure to make time every day to read. 

What’s Important Now? Make time every day to do that software update for your brain, even if it is just ten minutes. 

Take care.

Brian Willis

www.lifesmostpowerfulquestion.com

www.winningmindtraining.com

Maximizing human potential through Life's Most Powerful Question - What's Important Now?

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