Welcome to the Grow Inward Podcast, I am your host Adrian Petrillo.
I wonder, do I have any bookworms out there in podcast land? Love it or hate it, reading is an incredibly valuable resource in a multitude of ways. When it comes to inner growth, this is certainly no exception at all!
It's kind of a funny subject for me, because I spent the vast majority of my life having pretty darn close to zero interest in reading (laughs). I knew several avid readers who always encouraged me to do more of it, and I always shrugged it off.
Reading always made me feel tired, and I had better things to do. I always felt slighted when I would be assigned any reading in school, like it was some kind of ridiculous burden that was being waged upon me somehow? Looking back that is almost laughable, but hey, I was young and I am sure that I was not the sole member of that club, by any means.
What's even funnier to me, is what eventually changed my mind about reading. Because to be completely honest, I still to this day could not even begin to explain the 180 degree turn that ensued in the early 2000's for me?
It wasn't like anything specific that happened which changed my feelings or thoughts toward reading? There was no magical moment that I can put my finger on where I suddenly decided that reading was a good idea?
Ironically, there was a fairly closely linked sequence of events in my life that often leaves me somewhat curious about what exactly it was that gently steered my life in a very different direction in just a few short years? It still perplexes me when I think about it, but I must confess my immense gratitude for all of it? In fact, I would very likely not even be here with you today otherwise?
It turns out that discovering books and reading was a very significant step which led me down this path. This is because reading became an enormous source of inspiration for me, quite rapidly too! It didn't take me long to realize that the inspiration and motivation that I would need to keep me moving forward could always be found in the pages of a book.
There is a book for every single subject that you find interesting or inspiring. If you just think about that for a moment, isn't it a wonderful thing that just by interpreting the printed words on a page in this simple expression of your own language, you can find a wealth of inspiration that lights up the very deepest parts of you and everything that you love most about life?
I had mentioned in the last episode how we all have something beautiful to share, and there are countless books that put this beautiful sentiment on full display for the entire world to enjoy. It truly is remarkable to think about all of the intelligence and wisdom, elegance and grace, beauty and love, history and mythology, creativity and wonder, and so much more, that can all be found in something as simple as the pages of a book.
The amount of inspiration that is available for any given interest, truly is astounding. There are so many amazing writers out there that want nothing more than to share their beautiful and uniquely creative ideas or opinions on every subject imaginable. These ideas and opinions are rocket fuel for any soul who is willing to take a small part of their day to explore and enjoy them.
Such a wonderful aspect of this enjoyment and exploration is how it can light the creative fire within each of us. Sometimes one simple sentence can completely transform your life by stirring an unimaginable amount of inspiration within you. Have you ever heard a poem that just made you smile inside and say "YES"! Have you ever read an elegantly arranged set of words that struck you in a profound way that you found impossible to forget?
Words are so incredible when you think about it, and often just hearing them put in a way that you have never considered is enough to inspire you. How special is it that we can help each other in this way. There are words that are out there waiting for you to discover, words that will change your life. I encourage you to go out and search for them, and never stop looking for them.
Let these words help to inspire you to chase your own dreams and creativity. You undoubtedly have ideas within you that are needing only a small amount of inspiration to help move them forward, this inspiration can be found in books that speak to your inspiration. I strongly encourage you to take the time to explore them. You may be amazed at what you find.
Sometimes all it takes is a tiny little spark to ignite absolute magic within yourself, and it doesn't matter what it is that lights you up, it is patiently waiting for you to come discover it. A wonderfully fun and magical part of life is discovery, but you must seek out that which you hope to discover. Do not wait for it to come to you!
There are volumes of discoveries to be made that reach well beyond just the inspirational aspect of them. I think much of my own ever expanding interest in reading lies in all that I have learned and can then apply in my own life to help improve it. Afterall, so much of personal growth and inner work is all about learning new ways of being or doing.
With so many different options and avenues to explore, books are your very best friend when it comes to zeroing in on particular paths that you find genuinely interesting. For instance, when we spoke about sacred values a few episodes back, I encouraged you to define what those were for you. Once you have clarity on something like that, finding a book that elaborates on those ideas or concepts can be highly valuable.
It can bring much more value to a subject that you hold dear by learning more about it or how others have weaved it into their lives, or even different ways of thinking about it which you have not even considered. Often you will hear stories that solidify where you stand, or you may hear an amazing point that makes you completely reconsider your own stance?
Regardless of how this plays out, continually learning, questioning, and exploring is very healthy and beneficial to you as a person. We often must get out of our own way and make an effort to be open to different viewpoints or considerations, and books are such a great place to do this thoughtfully. So much of what we get from reading also helps us to adjust small things in our own lives, especially when we are trying to grow. This of course can also be purely entertaining in nature, which is also very fun and beneficial in it's own way.
I have found that on my own path to personal growth, books have played such a significant role in this process. I have explored so many interesting people and subjects in the pages of a book, and I have enjoyed it so much. I am amazed at just how many great books there are out there, and all of the things I have learned by just being willing to take 15 minutes to read before bed?
As human beings we have many things in common, not the least of which is our limiting beliefs or fears. This is another area where reading is such a wonderful tool. By sitting quietly with yourself and taking the time to read on subjects of this nature, you can learn and grow so much. So many books along these lines have invaluable exercises that you can work through at your own pace, and that will illuminate so many things for you in your own life. Often things that you may have struggled with or carried for far too long.
Books are an incredible resource that we all have available to us, and it doesn't matter what it is you are struggling with or hoping to achieve, you can find means and methods to address it in the pages of a great book! I can't tell you all of the subjects I have explored along these lines, it has been such a fun and rewarding process in nearly all of my efforts. While there are times that you can go down a rabbit hole for sure, most of the effort will at least provide you with some nuggets of wisdom you can put in your back pocket for a rainy day!
Now I know there are bound to be some listeners rolling their eyes or cringing at the very thought of having to read a book, and to that I say stop that right now (laughs). No, I get it. Honestly, for so much of my life I really hated reading because it made me tired, which made school absolutely brutal (laughs). I can't say that has went away completely, but ironically, I have found books on this very subject that can help with that problem! Tell me that's not kind of funny!
I do find that reading before bed helps in this regard actually. It seems to help me prepare for a good nights sleep for sure. But, I have also found that books or subjects which I find very fascinating can be much easier to read, as far as not feeling sleepy in the process. But here is the thing, if you do this before bed just a little each night, it really does add up. You can cover quite a bit of content fairly quickly reading just 15 minutes or so a night consistently?
Another great option is audiobooks. For all you commuters out there, this is an awesome option! I used to commute a fair bit and I got addicted to audiobooks. It helps pass the time, and you also get to learn something or have some entertainment for the ride. It's a pure and simple win win in my book (no pun intended (laughs)).
I think what I would like to leave you with here is that books are such an incredible resource for a source of inspiration to chase your own dreams or goals, but also a more productive and healthy form of entertainment than many forms of media used today. It's something easy that you can carry with you, with a huge variety of subjects and benefits to explore.
I know this isn't everyone's favorite medium for all sorts of different reasons, but I encourage you to give it another try. One thing I would suggest is to get a book on a subject that you find utterly fascinating, and just try to read a little each night before bed.
Also, on your path to personal growth, find a book in an area that you are particularly interesting in pursuing for your own unique wants and needs. Study with someone interesting and see what you can learn and implement from this simple but highly beneficial practice.
I sure hope you will try to dive into the pages of your next great book, there is so much wonder, wisdom, and inspiration waiting to be found there. Find the words and ideas that inspire you to do and be more than you ever thought possible, and by the way, have fun! It can be exactly that if you allow it to be. I want to leave you with a particularly inspiring phrase by a poet whom I absolutely love, Rumi.
"Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and twice as beautiful as you'd ever imagined."
Until next time, never underestimate the power you have within you, and keep Growing Inward.
