We’ve all heard the saying, you are what you eat. The message that this saying is conveying is that in order to be fit and healthy you need to eat the right foods, healthy foods. A healthy diet contributes to good health, feeling your best and looking your best. An unhealthy diet on the other hand can and typically does lead to feeling lousy, physical limitations, and worse yet, medical complications. Not good.
In addition to “you are what you eat”, the same can be said then for…..
YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ
In one form or another, we’re constantly exposed to all sorts of reading material. Whether it’s a newspaper, magazine, a book, an article online, Facebook posts, Tweets, emails, etc. There’s definitely not a shortage of material for us to read, if we so chose.
Reading stimulates our minds, helps us formulate thoughts, and compose ideas. It gives us the ability to think in a variety of ways, which is awesome.
What we chose to read shapes our thoughts. From there, our thoughts then shape our actions or lack of. It’s our actions that then create our outcomes, our results.
It all begins with what we chose to read and mentally digest.
QUICK EXAMPLE
I have friends who do not like traveling or have the slightest desire to do so. When asked why, they’re quick to reference horror stories about traveling that they’ve read. What these friends have chosen to read has shaped their thoughts and therefore their actions and ultimately their results. Nothing has actually happened to them personally, but what they’ve read has shaped their thoughts and therefore their actions.
Other friends of mine aspire to travel. They’re constantly reading about it and all the wonderful places to see that exist, and keeping up with others who travel regularly and write about their adventures. What these set of friends have chosen to read has shaped their thoughts about travel and how wonderful it can be. These thoughts are shaping their actions and ultimately will shape their outcome…. to travel. Although they have yet to travel, they have a positive view associated with the experience because of what they have chosen to read.
YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ
There’s lots of material available for us to read on a daily basis and the cool thing is, we’re the ones who decide what it is we want to read and focus on.
If you’re looking to lose weight, I suggest reading stories, books, and articles on those who are doing it or have done it.
If you’re looking to start your own business, read material on how to do it and about others who have done it and how they did it.
If you want to travel, read about all the amazing, cool places that exist, about others who travel, their adventures, and where they’ve been.
If you want a new job, I suggest you read material on how to best network, build your resume, and get noticed so as to create more opportunities for yourself.
If you’re looking for your soul mate, read more love stories and articles on romance. Read material that’s pro-love and not anti-love.
WHAT WE READ = WHAT WE THINK = WHAT WE DO = WHAT WE GET
I’m very selective on what I read. Unless it’s in line with the things I want more of in my life that intrigue and inspire me such as health and exercise, travel, education, and business, I don’t waste my time reading it.
SUGGESTIONS:
1. If you have friends who email you negative articles or material, ask them to stop sending it, delete it, or better yet, send them all the positive articles and materials you’re reading.
2. If you have Facebook friends who always post negative updates and links, consider ignoring their posts or just defriending them altogether. Harsh? Maybe. Necessary? Definitely.
3. If you like scanning through Yahoo News like I do every morning, read only what’s in line with the things that inspire you and that you want more of in your life.
[box] “I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson[/box]
BENEFITS OF READING IN GENERAL
* Can help prevent Alzheimer’s
* Learn something new
* Reduces stress
* Improves memory
* Makes you seem sexier (who knew)
* Helps boost analytical thinking
* Expands your vocabulary
* Makes you a better writer
THE LAST FIVE BOOKS I HAVE READ
1. How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
2. Start With Why by Simon Sinek
3. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
4. The $100 Start Up by Chris Guillebeau
5. The Power of Starting Something Stupid by Richie Norton
You are what you read, so please read wisely.
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And this, my friend, is why I read your blog!
My last five:
Mindset – Dweck
The Zigzag Principle – Christiansen
The 4 Hour Body – Ferris
Grow a Pair – Wingit
The Copywriter’s Handbook – Bly
All pretty good books. Love to hear what others are reading…
Thanks John, you’re awesome! That’s a great list of books you’ve read as well. Thanks for sharing them. I’ll definitely have to add a few of those that I haven’t read yet to my list of books to read.
Hi Mike, thanks for writing another great post. Cannot agree more. I’ve been carefully picking what I read as well. I want the books I read to educate me about health and enrich my spirits. Health and spirituality are the content I am in contact with these days;)
Hi Tracey! Thanks for your feedback, I definitely appreciate it. It sounds like you have your focus narrowed down to what you’re reading these days which is great! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hello!
I just stumbled across your website from the LYL Fb page. I couldn’t agree more with your post – you absolutely are what you read/watch/listen to.
A few years ago, when I didn’t know anyone in my circle of friends interested in Spirituality/Health/Personal Development, I made a conscious decision to surround myself with books, videos, articles, audios of people who were passionate about these subjects. And that’s whats made all the difference 🙂
If your environment/circle of friends aren’t helping you move forward in your goals, then surround yourself with the people who will – even if it’s simply through their thoughts and writings.
Thanks so much for your comment and feedback. That’s excellent that you made the conscious decision to surround yourself with books, videos, and audios of people who are passionate about the same subjects you are. As in the words of Jim Rohn that Scott at LYL often refers to, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”. Same can be said for all material we surround ourselves with as well. Cheers to you!