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Since a long time, I wanted to explore and write on the topic – ‘The Joy of Reading/Listening.’ Have you ever thought about the transformation that occurs when you are reading through the pages of a book or listening to your favorite podcast, or when you get involved in the myriad voices of blogs and social media?

I am a freelance content developer and reading/listening serves as a precursor to idea generation. I am not associated with any organization and don’t have a team so this habit becomes my window to the world and its developments. What is noticeable is that reading builds your confidence and earns you respect. You will always have this one person in your life whom you consider as knowledgeable because he/she is well read.

An immersive reading/listening experience has the power to transform the reader, depending on the type of content consumed.

Reading/listening to self- help books, a reader transcends from the stage of acquiring knowledge to applying it. The knowledge gets stored in the subconscious which you can recollect to handle specific situations. In the famous book – ‘The Monk who Sold is Ferrari,’ Robin Sharma says that mind should be nurtured like a garden. Often when I find my mind clouded with judgements, his words resonate with me and I start clearing the clutter.

When you read an editorial in a newspaper, you get rich information on an issue with multiple perspectives. It helps you take an informed stand on the topic. For instance, after continuous reading on the topic – ‘Sustainable Economic Development’, I concluded that dedicated investment in building a sustainable production cycle by the corporates across sectors is the only way to a green economy.

Fiction reading/listening, carries you to a different world. You become a part of the book and you sense every emotion that each character feels. You get attached to certain characters while you detest some, just like you do in your day-to-day life. I am currently reading ‘Little Women’ by Louisa May Alcott, and every chapter reminds me of the beauty of a simple life where you work hard and expect less.

Spiritual reading/listening enlightens you and pushes you to see the bigger picture. You develop the ability to keep your calm in adverse situations. I am a regular listener of a podcast on Spotify– ‘Gita for the Young and Restless’, by Jaya Rao. This podcast decodes the intricate Bhagavad Gita lessons. A recent episode on overthinking, made me take a pause to do away with the matters on which I was overthinking unknowingly.

Blogs and social media posts are instrumental in bridging divides. It is easy information available to one and all irrespective of their social or financial status. It also reduces the generation gap when two people of different ages, vibe with the same trend. I remember, my mother was amazed when she heard my daughter who is 12 years sing one of her favorite retro tracks ‘Mere Sapnon ki Rani’, from the 1969 film Aradhna, which the younger one had heard online in a reel.

Requesting you all to identify, what are you gaining from your habits.

Please engage and contribute because Reading/Listening is a promising gateway to a newer better world.

What is the strongest form of manifestation? It is the words we speak. Words have a direct impact on our reality. If that’s the power that rests in words, we should responsibly choose the right words in our day-to-day life with self and others around us. You may wonder, how can one be so diligent in an activity as routine as speaking? But why don’t you look at it this way, that we have such an easy tool to ensure positivity in our life, something which is completely in our hands, then why be averse?

How can you develop this habit of speaking right –

Pause before you speak – This is an advice that we have read since yesteryears, and still holds true. A pause always gives clarity to your speech. Please do not confuse a pause (of self or others) as a sign of indecisiveness. It is rather a sign of a matured conversational experience.

Hear to listen – An active listener is one who hears the other person to understand not to respond. On the other hand, a passive listener is in a hurry to give his/her take and in the process ends up talking fast and reckless. In a world that reverberates with partisanship towards ideas and equates busyness with your level of success, becoming someone who speaks after completely deciphering what the other is saying is a challenge. But trust me that is one habit that will set you apart from the crowd.

Be mindful of your vocabulary – A lot of our vocabulary is absorbed from the people around us. Consciously distinguish between your words and the words that you have taken from others. Try to use words that are positive and strong because that sets the tone for the hours ahead. It is simple – “I know the structure will bring changes but it will definitely be good for the company.” v/s “I fear that the structural change will make things worse.” If it is inevitable that you have to be a part of the change then the former statement certainly creates better vibrations.

When we speak carefully with self and others, we also create base for decisions that are well thought off. Thoughtful decisions in turn make our personal and professional life better. Before I conclude I would like to address an important point –

A positive spoken word is not used to fool you into something that is not real. It is a systematic tool that if used to your advantage can help you handle adversities efficiently. A good word is a means to tap into the reservoir of your inner strength, your inner potential that probably even you are not aware of.

A writer is blessed with an innate ability to put his/her thoughts on paper. Which was the last article that you read, you remember? What made you appreciate the story?

What makes a good read? Is a question that comes to the mind of writers and readers alike. As much as writers wish to write the best, even a reader wishes to read the best.

Address multiple perspectives

After many articles and stories, I have come to a conclusion that every reader interprets the same article differently. From the writer’s side, the meaning is one but the understanding is subjective. An article should thus, address multiple angles of looking at the same topic so that there is something in it for majority of the readers. For instance, https://www.speakingtree.in/article/why-fight-with-life-learn-to-flow-with-it – this article has more than 30k views because if you read on, you will find that the author has evaluated a sensitive habit of ACCEPTANCE at multiple levels.

Well researched and fact based

Any article that is based on solid facts will always have a stronger impact. With due respect to the writer’s knowledge on the topic, one should research before publishing an article. Even if one is writing fiction, the background and characters need to be well thought of which means well researched. This article on trends in digital marketing https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2023/01/18/2023-digital-marketing-trends-that-should-be-on-your-radar/?sh=50fce675cb37 states vital facts to support almost every trend listed.

Should reflect the writer’s character

A genuine article should always reflect the writer’s character and stand on the topic in discussion. Neutrality does not give a direction to the reader. The stance can be subtle or strong but it needs to show in the article. Now this one has a strong take on ChatGPT – https://frontline.thehindu.com/news/ai-experts-say-chatgpt-is-changing-education-but-how/article66449967.ece

An article should have a good structure and the basic language and grammar has to be in place. An article with appropriate subheads makes it easy for the reader to navigate through the story.

I might sound naïve but the goodness of writing lies in genuine love for your words. As a writer we have the right to seek inspiration and learn as we improvise our own writing skills. But, aping the writing style of the other is unacceptable.

Yes, today articles are written for followers and traffic but a true writer gets a high only if connect supersedes the statistics. Engaging comments and ensuring that you have led your readers to think is a true achievement for a writer. The commercial angle alone will never lead to a masterpiece.

It would be great if you engage and share what you think makes a good read.