Books: A Quiet Sanctuary for the Heart

Google the word "books" and you will get results that say, "Books are fundamental tools for human growth, acting as gateways to knowledge." Google "reading" and you will learn that it reduces stress, sharpens memory, expands vocabulary, and more.

While these reasons are lucrative enough to motivate someone to read books, trust me, these benefits are just the tip of the iceberg. Reading does all this and much more; it is one of the ultimate keys to your brain health and mental well-being.

Reading is meditative in nature. In our modern hustle culture, there aren't many activities left that aren't constantly combined with something else. We eat while watching a screen, exercise while listening to music, or talk with a TV buzzing in the background. Multitasking may seem attractive, but focusing on one task at a time is what truly strengthens you and your brain. Reading is one of those rare activities that generally cannot be combined with anything else. Thus, it forces you to be present with yourself. It allows you to reflect and introspect, which graaadualllly changes you as a person.

If you have anger issues, read books. If you tend to overthink, read books. If you tend to get into fights due to strong opinions, read books. Tell me what you want to improve in your personality, and my answer will be: read books. You don't believe me, right? You shouldn't—you must verify it for yourself by reading and witnessing the difference over the years.

Let's look at how it actually happens. When you read, you encounter a vast array of views, opinions, ideas, places, and characters. This gradually builds your perspective, trains your mind to see things from someone else's point of view—one page, one book at a time. I truly believe the root cause of most relationship issues is our inability to see where the other person is coming from. Once we can do that, we mellow down and try to solve issues through communication rather than conflict. One of the most amazing things about reading is that it trains your mind to hold two opposing ideas at the same time without feeling confused or paralysed. This, my friend, is where profound internal growth happens. I am not promising that reading will solve all your problems, but I can assure you it will lessen your internal battles.

खुद को साध लिया तो मानो सब साध लिया।

Do you want to inculcate good habits like reading but fail to do it? Read Atomic Habits by James Clear. It may sound a bit repetitive after a while, but sometimes repetition is exactly what drives a point home. The book breaks down the actual science of behaviour change and provides practical ways to build lasting habits. It highlights what stops us from progressing and shows us how to overcome those hurdles.

If I can give you the short version, it is this: if you want to develop a reading habit, decide on a specific time to read every single day, and then aim to read just 10 pages. For an average reader, this takes no more than 15 to 20 minutes. Do it religiously for three months, then, let reading pull you towards itself.

Looking forward to hearing from you about the books you love and the stories that have touched you. Share your thoughts and reviews here!

We can use the chat box for our discussions... drop a message and let's connect over books!

Keep reading, keep growing! Happy reading, everyone!

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Recommendations for Young Readers & Beginners:

* Atomic Habits by James Clear

* Dopamine Detox by Thibaut Meurisse

* Ikigai by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia

* Chicken Soup for the Soul (Series) by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen