The Only True Magic

“Books may be the only true magic on earth.”  Alice Meecham

Studies show that few people continue to read and learn once they stop their formal education.  Studies also suggest, those who are life-long learners, live better, earn more and have more excitement and satisfaction in their lives and work.  There truly is magic within the pages of great books.

What was the last good book you read?  Can you remember?  If not, it may be time for you to carve out a little bit of time to reengage in reading.  There are great benefits to listening to audios, tremendous impact from watching videos or DVDs and you can gain a great deal from attending seminars and workshops – However, there is something unique and magical about reading a book.  Books can take you on amazing adventures of the mind to exotic places, thrilling chases or inspiring thoughts.

If you aren’t sure where to begin your new pursuit of books here are a few suggestions:  Read fiction to develop your creativity, expand your own writing ability and improve your visualization skills.  Read non-fiction to think more strategically, improve specific skills and increase your knowledge base.  Read biographies of great people to learn what they had to overcome to achieve their greatness.  Read histories to understand cultures and the unique gifts of people.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to come back to books.  A few minutes at a local used bookstore can provide you with more than enough material for months and years to come.

You don’t have to go it alone either.  If you need a little accountability or want to bounce around ideas from what you are reading – form a mastermind group or book club to make your reading even richer and enjoy the deep dialogue which stems from such interaction.  Now your mastermind group doesn’t need to be formal or overly structured.  You can do it virtually, you can do it through a chat board or discussion group or you can even do it via a teleconference or webinar.  Simple is always best when it comes to mastermind or discussion groups.

Reading will change who you are and impact what you can become.  Even just committing 15 minutes per day (which is just a little over 1% of your 24-hour day) can make an incredible difference.  Emerson said, “Great readers are what make great books great.”  Become a great reader – you will find it is a great balancer in your EVE ratio (Entertainment vs Education) and will put you in position to change the course of your life or business.

Start reading today!  Returning to reading will influence every aspect of your life and open up new worlds and extraordinary opportunities for you to explore.