I’ve been an avid reader for almost 10 years. Reading is a part of my life — a habit I couldn’t imagine not following.
Reading hundreds of self-help books made me a better person and taught me life lessons I couldn’t otherwise have learned.
I got hooked when I understood why reading was essential. At first, I thought reading books was only in schools and colleges. I didn’t want to read more books after my academic education had ended.
Thanks to the internet for helping me build a reading habit.
The first book I picked from the store was Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. There has been no stopping me since.
As I said, books helped me learn about life, business, relationships, money, markets, etc. I would never have been the person I am today if it hadn’t been for the books I read.
Unfortunately, I have to end this decade-long habit. I have decided not to read books anymore.
I still love reading and do it every day. However, a few weeks ago, I realized something that changed my perspective on reading books.
Reading had become a forceful activity for me. Instead of actually learning something, I read only for its sake—in other words, I read only because it was a habit. This had been going on for a few months.
I was buying book after book, but my life remained the same. I didn’t notice any change in me like I did before. In the past, reading books like How to Win Friends and Influence People, Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Psychology of Money, etc., practically impacted my life. However, I cannot capture the same effect from reading now.
Most people I know have a similar problem. They read books, but their lives remain unchanged. Why are they still struggling if they have read so many books and gathered so much information on life?
I know reading books won’t magically transform your life. But they should have a significant impact on you.
I was reading books even when they weren’t helping me.
Reading is only helpful if you are implementing what you learn. Reading helps, but you need action because it’s the only thing that can genuinely help you progress.
My motive for quitting reading is to focus on action and implement what I have learned. I want to bring the things I’ve read to life and make significant changes in parts of my life with the books I’ve read.
Having said that, I’m not quitting reading forever—I can never do that. It’s just a short break to reevaluate the impact of this habit on my life and ensure that it’s actually worth it.
As I said, I want to focus on implementation.
“Don’t read 53 books a year. Instead, read one book and implement the lessons for 53 weeks.” — Unknown
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