This is Why I Could Read 300 Books in 2016

After I wrote my last article about the "5 Things I learnt about happiness after reading 300 Books," many were curious were to know how I read 300 Books. Therefore in this article, I have shared the one main psychological reason that has helped me and still helping me to read more.

Not able to read more is more of a Will issue and less of a Skill issue.

This article is a life-time reminder to me to follow it and will also help you to read more. Let us begin with my story...

The beginning of 2016 marked my beginning as a full-fledged “Velocity Reading Trainer.” At that time, I had self-doubts, lot of negative thinking going on - fear of failure, criticism etc. At that time my desperate need was to stay positive. The best way to do was to read a lot of self-help and personality development books. And that is what I did.

After reading around hundred books in few months (From January till April - May), I was thinking positively and self-confidence was good. After that time – self-help books stopped being interesting to me.

At that time, my desperate need was to learn about marketing and sales because I was struggling to get more participants. Hence I started reading more about marketing and sales. After few months (by October-November), I started to lose interest in them.

Now my need is to know more about the successful people because I strongly believe in next 10 years I can reach that level. Therefore I need to know in depth about their life and the best way for that is to read biographies and autobiographies.

So when I was reading books which gave me the knowledge to tackle my desperate needs, my brain automatically found time for that (without any conscious efforts). But when the time came for reading for my wants (especially spiritual books) even I struggled to find time and interest for reading them.

And the reason for that is – Our brain loves to do things that give us Instant Gratification.

Instant gratification means quick results. That is why for relaxing we always prefer watching movies over mediation. Although time is taken for mediation is just 15 minutes per day and movies are around 2 hours. But still, the reason given for not doing meditation is a lack of time. Watching movies give you instant relaxation (although not a permanent one) and that is why your brain finds time for that and not for meditation as it takes at least a month to start showing results.

Relating it to books – I still want to be more confident and learn more about marketing but that is now my WANT and not NEED. When we read a book which has the knowledge to solve our need and we apply that knowledge (application is must) our brain sees the instant positive result. That keeps our brain motivated to keep on reading more.

When it comes to reading for wants, you will only read it when you have extra time. That is why you hear people saying I do not have time for reading. Our brain is wired in such a way that it cannot be 100% focused on wants till the needs are meet.

Therefore the first step is to accept whatever your need is. When I interact with young people, they always want to read (but are struggling to read) motivational and self-help books, although only a few of them suffer actually need motivation. Still, everyone wants to read because society says so. But when I ask them about how their relationships, only a few are happy. Rest are either single or not in a good relationship.

So I suggest them to read more about dating and understanding other gender’s psychology (because that’s their need). Then they start Reading and then rarely stop! Same goes for adults too, who wants to read (but are not reading) to get better in their career. But if they are struggling with health or building a strong relationship – then that’s their desperate need.

Remember brain will always find a way (may not be a good one always) to meet its desperate needs first and then go for wants.

Therefore read books on your desperate needs first and then as time permits go towards your wants.

This technique helped me to read the almost book a day this year, hope it will help you to read at least book a week next year.

Keep Reading...

Keep Growing...

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