Reading a little bit each day has many benefits. Reading about 20 minutes a day from a book or professional article broadens your world and allows your mind to learn new information, to comprehend the subtleties of how language works, teaches your mind the capacity to learn more about yourself, and provides a space for your imagination to play. These 4 abilities absorbed from reading can help build confidence in both your personal and professional lives.
LEARNING NEW INFORMATION
Our brains are constantly barraged with information throughout the day, from different smells to a stranger rattling off nonsense as truth. Consistently reading helps the brain to learn how to sift through the information, highlighting the possible falsehoods. Reading reputable news articles or non-fiction books keep you informed on current events and are a balanced voice with the facts of those situations. You can become confident while engaging in random conversations about many topics. Reading can help you form a balanced and clear opinion and to debate about those opinions with others on a plethora of subjects.
Your sense of the world broadens with reading. While reading travel reviews or travel essays the world becomes closer to home. Learning about other cultures is engaging and helps to create new synapses in the brain. Learning about other countries and people has the ability to build your confidence for parties or meeting the in-laws too. These events can be less stressful when others see that you’re well read and aware of more than just yourself.
EXPANDING VOCABULARY
Reading regularly exposes you to new words and how to use them in proper context. Vocabulary tends to indicate to others how intelligent a person is, so expanding your internal dictionary and thesaurus will help others to see you in such a light. Reading teaches you how language works and your brain better learns how various words fit together in context and picks up the subtleties of tone to inspire various feelings or hinting at a future action. Readers are prepared better for surprise tests or questions from a potential boss during an interview. Being well read will build your confidence for interviews or speeches or everyday conversation. Being able to pick up and build your own vocabulary teaches you how to articulate your thoughts better, allows you to convey your meaning and intentions better to those around you. Those who are viewed as well spoken get promoted quicker and more often.
READING ALLOWS PLAY
Giving your brain some play time is essential for a happy brain. Playing puzzle games such as crosswords or Sudoku keeps your brain fit, constantly forming new pathways and with new information for the brain to learn different solutions to problems. Some website offers, like Lumosity or Course Hero free, have a plethora of courses or games to help exercise the brain, keeping it fresh and young, thus building confidence in your abilities to conquer any task you must face.
Another way to help invigorate your mind is by reading stories. Books can take your mind away from the stresses of the day and transport it into an alternate world, a different dimension. Having the ability to imagine what it reads shows that the brain is flexible. A healthy brain is one that can explore what is not reality, exploring causes and effects to invent creative solutions, showing agility and confidence.
LEARNING ABOUT YOURSELF
Reading a little bit each day challenges your views on the world and your place in it. Learning about people’s’ nature or about the other creatures we share this planet with can reveal some insight about yourself. Reading teaches empathy and helps to convey the feelings or what compels their actions and views. Being versatile, knowing yourself better, and being more secure in who and what you are invites confidence to grow.
