8 Benefits of Reading and why you should start today!

8 reasons to inspire you to pick up a book and get a brand new desire to explore and learn.

Reading is a huge part of my life. I am a self proclaimed bookworm and proud. I spend hours every week reading books on a variety of different topics, from Acting, to Business, to Film-making right though to biographies and amazing novels. Some of those hours are also spent reading blogs and of course Ebooks. This is my way of exercising my brain, educating myself and really opening myself up to experiences that I may not be exposed to in real life.

“The greatest gift is the Passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.” ―Elizabeth Hardwick

When you read a book, you have to remember an assortment of characters, their backgrounds, ambitions, history, and nuances, as well as the various arcs and sub-plots that weave their way through every story. That same ability to analyze details also comes in handy when it comes to critiquing the plot; determining whether it was a well-written piece, if the characters were properly developed, if the storyline ran smoothly, etc.

Also every new memory you create from reading forges new synapses (brain pathways) and strengthens existing ones, which assists in short-term memory recall as well as stabilizing moods. How cool is that?

From what I have mentioned above you can already see how reading helps me and how it would play an important role in my career as an Actor and Filmmaker, but below I list 8 more reasons and hope that they inspire you to pick up a book and get a brand new desire to explore and learn.

Expose Yourself to New Things  Reading gives you the opportunity to expose yourself to new things, gives you new ways to solve a problem and allows you to be exposed to new information. I believe exploration begins from reading and understanding. Everything you read fills your head with new bits of information, and you never know when it might come in handy. The more knowledge you have, the better-equipped you are to tackle any challenge you’ll ever face.

"I love books. I love that moment when you open one and sink into it you can escape from the world, into a story that's way more interesting than yours will ever be. - Elizabeth Scott

Self Improvement & Relaxation  Reading helps you become a "Better You", it helps you to understand a world outside of your own. You can learn just about anything from a book allowing you create a structured path towards better understanding. A well-written novel can transport you to other realms, while an engaging article will distract you and keep you in the present moment, letting tensions drain away, allowing you to relax.

Improve Understanding   The more you read, the more you understand the A to Z of something. Let me give an example here: Lets say you want to understand what it is like to hike across the country or the desert alone and survive the elements, or battle a deadly disease or live with someone who is terminally ill. These are circumstances that you may not necessarily find yourself in personally, however if you are preparing for a role in a film or perhaps have a friend who is going through these types of experiences, then reading to understand and develop empathy can only be a good thing. Basically, reading increases the understanding of the rules of life, and helps you understand society better. To play well in a game, you first need to understand the rules well.

Preparation to Action  Before you take action on anything, where do you go to for help and guidance? Reading is a great place to start. Read about how to cook a meal; how to play chess; read about a country before visiting.. the list is literally endless and can help you become more prepared before any situation (or role) you tackle or want to tackle in life.

"A Reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one" - George RR Martin

Gain Experience from Other People  This is a big one for me. When you are reading, you are actually gaining the knowledge and experience of someone. There is a mountain of gems for you to discover in books, which contain people’s successes, failures and advice. Reading is a great path to get to know "people", and learn from them.

Tools of Communicating Communication is the most important tool which can be achieved through reading. As you read, you understand more, which means you can communicate on another level with people. Through reading, you build a more solid foundation for communication. It is one of the most important tools we can use to connect with each other.

Connecting Your Brain  Reading connects directly to your brain. In silence, you seek for more; in silence, your brain is clear and focuses. Just like any other muscle in the body, the brain requires exercise to keep it strong and healthy, so the phrase “use it or lose it” is particularly apt when it comes to your mind. Studies have shown that staying mentally stimulated can slow the progress of (or possibly even prevent) Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Boost Imagination & Creativity  Reading exposes you to a world of imagination, showing you nothing is impossible in this world. By reading, you are looking at things from a different angle and possibly learning how a different action leads to a different result. Books are beyond imagination. When you read a book, all of your attention is focused on the story—the rest of the world just falls away, and you can immerse yourself in every fine detail you’re absorbing.

So there you have it! I hope this has inspired you to pick up a book and start reading! Especially if you are an actor or a film-maker. Unless you have the time and money to travel the world and connect with people one-on-one, Live with people and listen to their stories and get into situations (good and bad) and experience life to the extreme on your own, then Reading is the next best thing and your key to understanding the world and the people in it.

#actingpure #reading #bookworm #books