Friday, November 11, 2011
Baby Steps to Greatness: Start by Making Good Habits
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| It's the things you do today that make-up your future |
My
uncle once gave the most important tip in studying effectively: read and understand the book from cover to
cover “literally”. Whether it’s the copyright’s page, the index, the table
of contents, the edition, or just the testimonials, reading these can greatly
help in assimilating the lessons the author wrote in his book. He told me this
after quizzing me with what I was reading – an Engineering book which I was
surprised to see he understood more even if his profession was lined up in
political science (take note he just read it then and there). It was then that
I saw what was wrong with my study habits (particularly my reading). I love to
read and did very well in class; but I could have performed even better.
I have read so many books and finished these fast but after that meeting I realized I was just scanning them, not completely “reading” them. Since then I started reading books “from cover to cover”. I didn’t skip the acknowledgements, the foreword, the copyright’s page, even the so-called “least important details” on newspaper and magazine articles. It may be hard at first and may have been more time consuming, but after it I became more conscious with my reading choices even with purchasing books.
Just like not skipping the smallest
and what most of us call “least important” details in books, making big changes
in your life starts by giving importance even with the smallest decisions you make. For me, changing how I read books made me select the best reading
materials and made my study habits more effective (I understood the
lessons more). This also affected how I think about certain situation and how I
analyze it—even people’s behaviors. It made me more observant which eventually
led me to take an interest in the teaching and fall more in-love with writing.
When you want to make things
happen you have to start by taking baby steps. There is no overnight
success formula. You can’t lose a hundred pounds after a month (healthy weight
lost that is), and you can’t accumulate wealth either that fast (even lottery
winners know this since they have to make plans on spending their winnings
wisely to be truly successful with it).
Darren Hardy discussed in his
book, The Compound Effect, how habits can change your life dramatically. From
getting a more fit body to your work performance, even in finding your
potential partner in life; everything starts from the smallest and so-called
least important decisions you make. If you want to lose weight you have to give
yourself at least five minutes a day to exercising, even skipping deserts. If
you don’t want to be late from work, you have to start going to bed earlier to
complete that six hours of sleep. And if you want to attract the right partner
for you, you have to accept your own short comings and start working on where
to improve yourself to become the type your ideal partner would likely get
attracted to. The things we practice become habits and in time these defines who
we are.
Learn from our past.
Cherish the present.
Look forward to the future.
It takes 21 days of repeating an
activity to make it a habit. Whether you’ll b be giving 30 minutes of your time to
reading, switching from chocolates to fruits for your desert, or waking up 6 am
every morning, making the right choices (no matter how simple they may be) and
acting upon these will turn your life from where you are now to somewhere better.
Never neglect the simple things you
do in life!
Photo taken by M. Halili
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very good mantra: "Learn from our past. Cherish the present. Look forward to the future."
ReplyDeleteprevious post pala ito, pero tamang-tama sa mga may new years resolution :)
ReplyDeleteLetting go our past belongings and memories, helps us live our present fully and look forward to our future with redoubled vigour.
ReplyDeletejust as long as you enjoy a thing you are doing, it will definitely become a habit :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good post! Just in time for most of us who are into making better daily routines for 2012. Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeletei agree with the last statement! Needless to mention, you write great. Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteI don't read the foreword, table of contents, or copyright page but when I do make it a point to read a book carefully while studying. I make sure that I understand what I'm reading. That's the key I guess because even when you don't memorize everything, if you understand, then you'll be fine :D
ReplyDeleteI don't really read books. kahit nga books for schools di ako nagbabasa hahaha i want to read a book pero nakakatamad. and I'll make sure that if i start reading a book, i'll dedicate my time on it.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! All the best to you and your blog. Happy 2012.
ReplyDeletekoreandoll | miss angel
I dont like reading books. Inaantok ako. Hehehe. But in studying, I always make sure na wala akong na-skip na important details. I read the book for atleast 3 times. Scanning ideas, understanding it and last para magmemorize. :)
ReplyDeleteI like this, "Never neglect the simple things you do in life!" Big things always start from small ones.
Very nice reminder especially for the new year thanks
ReplyDeleteThat is why I created a blog, 21 Days To Form A Habit...I haven't given it much attention yet, though.
ReplyDeleteIn life's developing a habit, one would take a baby steps couple with self discipline. By then, we are now developing a "good" habit. Nice post Jhen. :-).
ReplyDeletei am guilty of just browsing and not actually reading...what i do is if it really interest me i reread it again and again...i easily get bored kc, but i'll try the reading from cover to cover as you suggest...
ReplyDeleteYou made me realize i'm not reading well. I read magazines from cover to cover, including the staff box. Not on books though.
ReplyDeleteI love to read too and I can say, I always skip the introductions and all. Thanks for the tip. :)
ReplyDeleteI was confused of your title while I was reading your post. I realized that the topic deals more on reading. The effective way of reading to assimilate things you've read. The best way to read printed materials and get the main idea perfectly. Actually, there are kinds or types of a reader, depending on their purpose of reading, like scanners, skimmers and the learners.
ReplyDeletei love reading, infact sometimes i batter a book with my snipettes of thoughts on each side or where i coud find space to write my learning. books are a good source of second-hand experience :)
ReplyDeletei am not into book reading but i have some favorites and one of them is the cookbook . i read it from cover to cover .my hubby even teases me that my bible is the cook boook.
ReplyDeletefirst time visiting your blog and you got my senses, keep on blogging!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless!
how great thou art
- FranCis
Nice post! I admit, I am not really into reading books; I'm not a bookworm, and I carefully choose what I read, but, I love how you put your words together! Happy New Year! Keep on Blogging! =)
ReplyDeletegood habits indeed! eliminate negative thoughts the moment it wants to enter your system - i know easier said than done... but it's doable ;-)
ReplyDeleteon to the good ones...
Guilty :( I too skim through articles thinking that I have to go through A LOT so I do this... This post of your made me think twice of that habit.
ReplyDeleteAnother good book to read about habits is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People :)
Great advice. Something that I preach in my blog, Click Play Inspire. Reading great articles about how you can help make a difference and listening to the talks posted there will really help every individual pursue their passion and do their best.
ReplyDelete@c5 I'm looking forward to your 21 days to form a habit ;)
ReplyDelete@Ms. Tatess a cook book is a great bible :) I remember my mom use to read her Nora Daza and even watches her show every Saturday... :)
@Christia agree with the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People!
@mary mary quite contrary I agree with what you said that books are a good source of second-hand experience. I also write thoughts at the side space of the book before until I decided to keep a small notebook for it (so as to keep all learned thoughts in one place).
@Jonathan: Cheers! let's continue preaching what we practice especially to those who try to be in control of other people's lives yet they themselves can't be in control of their own--not letting them live life to the fullest...
Jenny, my first time reading your blogs today. You impress me on this one: "I also write thoughts at the side space of the book before until I decided to keep a small notebook for it (so as to keep all learned thoughts in one place)." And the mantra as well - Learn from the past Cherish the present Look forward to the future, good one indeed!
ReplyDeleteKeep on blogging!