How I wished I would have started reading earlier
"we believe what we are taught untill we gather evidence to the contrary."
Letter 03
If I could have started reading earlier I wouldn’t had -
a. wasted my limited time in taking advice on my problem from other people.
b. wasted my free time getting into uncomfortable relationships that are useless and time-sucking.
c. fixed mindset that only two ways to get success [on this later in this post]
d. bang my head thinking about other parts of the country.
e. chase instant gratification more than own personal or professional goals.
f. talked more and make the path to your ultimate goals cloudy.
Preface
What actually happened with me after graduation [let me give a brief description because this post is about a particular ‘phenomenal book’, not my wasting-time story], I went into analysis paralysis as to further do M.com or pursue Mba or sit at home and prepare for a bank exam or any competitive exams jobs. Due to ‘young me’ remaining at hostel [class 7 to class 12] and again at rent in Jalpaiguri for higher studies i.e. graduation [2011-2014], basically out of home for studies, sincerely I was longing to stay back at home so I can enjoy with my hometown friends. Finally, after many decisions, I opt to stay at home and casually prepare for competitive exams.
The hope and the fun of getting a job at the bank got sucked away as I couldn’t clear the mains examination in either Ibps or any public sector in almost 2 and half years. I wasn’t studying with depth and clarity, I was more active in daily hangouts and weekly parties I get to.
By the year 2018, - I asked my father to help him in his business. And from there I joined my family-owned business journey.
The Mindset Game
During those years, in fact, until the pandemic happened, I used to believe there are either two ways I can secure myself. One is by getting a job, another is by running my family business. End of the world. nothing else.
Then the coronavirus hit the entire world in 2020. Stayed bluntly at home hoping of creating extra sources of income, I thought ‘is that possible?'
I came to know the usefulness of reading books from a few mentors whom I used to follow, who showed me the importance and clarity of why reading books matters.
I borrowed a few books [one at a time] from my dear friend Lokesh Parikh, and those were -
think and grow rich
How to win friends and influence people
Death by sadhguru
man’s search for meaning {read on 1/5th of the entire book]
Then I ordered two books from Flipkart in 2021
a. think like a monk by Jay Shetty
b. Atomic Habits by James Clear
As you can guess it right, completed the books in almost three-four months, but gave me the sense of thrill, power, and clarity a book can provide.
The Now
Currently, I am reading Oliver burkeman’s book ‘Four thousand weeks’. I have learned more in the last two years than I have in the previous 5 years preceding the last 2 years.
Benefits of reading widely
Helps in focusing more on the things that are important, weeding out the unnecessary.
the more you read, the more aware you become [not in the sense of what’s happening in the other parts of the world, but awareness in our own personal life, as to which measurable goals to chase]
Reading helps to separate things that are in your control from the things that aren’t. [in your control - what actions are you deploying, not in your control - what other people think about you, what they are up to]
I have sorted the benefits reading provides your brain here in typeshare.