Why reading elevates your consciousness

I spent nearly 20 years studying to be the best lawyer I could be. It meant reading many reported cases, masses of (mind-numbingly boring) documents and manuals on professional practice.

But did it elevate me or my (prosperity) consciousness?

It is hard to say definitively.

On the one hand I felt comfortable and sometimes slightly smug in being able to recite the latest and most meaningful exposition of the law, but, in hindsight, I recognise it my have had a limiting effect on my consciousness.

As long ago as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by success. More particularly why so few people make it to the top in their chosen field. This issue is dealt with in the opening passage to the Master Key System written by Charles Haanel. Yes, we could debate the issue of class but in essence we are all born equal but yet some people go on to achieve great things whilst others live a life which prima facie seems way below their ability.

The trouble with law is that it takes you down a rabbit hole where your consciousness is not mind-expanding (in the wider sense) but limits your purview to the point where, in my case, I became distant and remote from some of the real things in life. In a sense this is no different to all of us. If you are a police officer you tend to be on duty all the time. If you are in medicine you only look at the downside of risk. And so on. 

Success consciousness is built upon a number of fundamental precepts, one of which is the thinking process. I am a fervent believer in the notion that we attract the things to us by the person we are or have become. This is very much the same philosophy as the late Jim Rohn adopted, as well as countless others.

Now that I have stopped practising as a lawyer, I have made a point of trying to read one book a week. I have read nearly all of Seth Godin's works, The Domino Project Series and have also started to devour the works of Tom Peters (see his excellent article in yesterday's Financial Times).

Books alone will not change me; but what I have noticed is how they have started me on a journey to reconnect with myself. I know this might sound pompous and less than self-effacing but it is the truth.

One of my mantras is taken from Neitzsche:

"To become what we truly are."

I first came across this reading Michael Gerber's masterful book, The E-Myth Revisited. He talks about it in the context of freedom. And I suppose that's just it. I felt constrained both emotionally and physically before but I now feel I am in with a Big fat chance of becoming what I truly am (for good I hope!)

I am not sure how many books I have (now) read but I definitely feel as if I am making up for lost time. Importantly, I am focused on trying to take something out of each book which I can apply in my every day existence. Some are business focused. Others much more spiritual but I feel that each one takes me further along a path of consciousness.

There is of course no substitute for real life and most importantly listening to and learning from others. But I know that without my reading I would be stuck right now, and the compass that I have set for myself to explore, being prosperous and helping others would be the worse for my avid reading.

What is your own experience of reading? Has it helped with your consciousness?

~ JS ~

Comments

[Botzarelli]

Hmm, not sure about my consciousness, or indeed quite what that is, but studying law does make you read in an odd way. Apart from the 4 years spent studying law academically at undergraduate and postgrad level (I discount the BVC from this time) I've always read heavily.

However, I remember looking forward to getting back into reading fiction after finishing Finals and then being dismayed at my inability to read anything other than Law Reports and Journals. I had got so used to reading in a utilitarian way (skimming through, looking for the ratio, mentally filing interesting obiter, pulling out the mechanics of the factual scenario) that starting at the beginning of a novel and working through it in the way intended by the author was too strange. I had to pick my way slowly and deliberately through a couple of anthologies of short stories before returning to some semblance of normality.

[Julian Summerhayes]

I am so glad it wasn't just me beginning to feel that I was slowly going mad. I still read very quickly but I am training myself to re-read material and understand the deeper meaning than simply casting it to one side as irrelevant. Do you think any one book has made a difference more than others?

Julian

[Crellow]

This is fascinating: I grew up in a religiously driven plain household where reading was almost the only hobby, no television or film and little music. I have a history degree with associated analytical thinking skills well honed but I firmly believe my young years spent reading have formed the 'people' person I've become, fairly tolerant and understanding of people from all walks of life and an oft commented on ability to empathise with the human condition. These days, post children, farming and busy daily life reading fills a much more knowledge than fiction gap where biography and occasionally autobiography are dominant interests.

Reading does indeed inform consciousness but in my view at various different levels and at various different paces: sometimes I can read historical tomes other times bountiful fiction, which seems to be a different take on the speed/need reading you lawyers describe, so 'mood' or attitude is an influencing factor even in a 'non' lawyer.

I wonder where this leaves my passion for reading book reviews, and buying all sorts so when I come to the end I can start by choosing from my own TBR - to be read - rather than deal with Waterstones or the like. Or the deep trauma associated with ending some books where I simply can't read for a week or two while the brain space makes for something new or interesting.

An interesting subject indeed Julian, thank you

Deborah

[Julian Summerhayes]

Thanks Deborah for your kind comments. I would love to be able to share my journey through my blog. I am inspired by so many books which seem so resonate with my own situation. I feel I have a lot of catching up to do.

Julian