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The one thing that separates mankind from animals is imagination. The ability to imagine what is possible, what was possible, and what could be. This power. This gift allows us to go in endless directions. Gives us unlimited potential.
In order to realize this potential, we must find ways to stimulate our imaginations. I have found the most effective way to do this is…
…through reading fiction.
Yes, fiction. Some of you might find it surprising that for a guy who writes a personal development blog, I read very few self-help (and I use that term quite loosely here) books.
I read some very good blogs and maybe one self-help book a year. The rest of the time, I read fiction—averaging 2-3 books a week (I have a long subway commute, so I spend that time reading or studying Korean). I also read poetry, which I find to be the most stimulating for my imagination—though I admit poetry is not for everyone.
And I recommend for you to do the same. At least try it for 30 days. Online, read some of your favorite personal development blogs, but offline read nothing but fiction. Don’t’ read biographies, history, or any other non-fiction. Try reading fiction that challenges your imagination. If you’ve never read it, I suggest starting with the Lord of the Rings. Mythology and stories have a way of opening our minds in ways a self-help book can’t.
I read a lot of Japanese fiction, especially Haruki Murakami. I find his books to be some of the best. But also reading international fiction opens your mind to a new way of seeing the world.
Most personal development material challenges you, but you also need to find ways to challenge yourself. It’s one thing to tell people to imagine something, but it is quite another thing to actually do it. By using fiction to open your mind to worlds beyond, you can imagine ways to make the impossible happen.
And armed with that vision, you can go out there and MAKE it happen.
Here are some recommended books of fiction to get you started on your journey:
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One Response to “Read Fiction to Unleash Your Potential”
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September 18th, 2007 at 11:34 am
You are absolutely right.
I took some time off and finished “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of The Rings”. I had been reading too many books to help myself on my new business venture, and I found myself being quite dull and irritated as well. But after I finished these two books, I have been feeling as if I got greatly energized by exploring and adventuring with the characters in the books. I put a chair right next to my bed, and I put several Korean novels on top of it so that I can read them before I go to bed.