Page After Page, Story After Story by The Dysania Concept (2023)
Before exploring this week’s edition of The Mindsets, we invite you to read a publication in collaboration with Project Synergy! Project Synergy is a global arts and culture initiative that promotes interaction, cooperation, and unity among creative minds. With them, we published a surprise mindset titled On Monsters and Magic, which is closely related to today’s, so if you have some spare time, take a look before you keep reading! Done? Fantastic. Now, onto this week’s edition of The Mindsets.
Stories, both fictional and non-fictional, have always surrounded us. Bedtime stories, our first films, and the first book we read, and eventually finding the storytelling genres we love and our favourite medium, too, are special moments for all of us. And to many, the comfort of these stories is better found in a small and enchanting object: a book. Whether you love Tolkien, Dickinson, Garcia Marquez, Hemingway or Woolf, the one thing in common they all share is that to explore their true work, you must explore it through the words and sentences that bring it to life. Reading is a habit, and those who have it know the beauty it provides. To the ones that don’t, perhaps this essay will convince you to begin to practice it. Nevertheless, in this edition of The Mindsets, we’ll explore the qualities, virtues and skills Readers have that permit them to escape reality, travel unknown worlds and, eventually, come back to us brighter, inspired and enlightened to keep on enjoying living. As George R.R. Martin, creator of A Song of Ice and Fire, said, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”
1. Curious
Readers rely on their curiosity to discover new worlds, ideas and teachings. A Reader that isn’t curious lives stuck. Even if your interests are limited to a single author or genre, curiosity is the quality that will boost your reach into new stories and their teachings. Beyond creating attraction to material, a Reader’s curiosity also leads them to ask questions and attempt to uncover them as they journey through a tale or read about their topic. From trying to discover who the murderer is to understanding a character’s psychology to comprehending a challenging idea, all books need curious Readers. In our lives, implementing a similar level of curiosity can lead us to uncover questions that can help us stir through the unknown and into our final destination: the last pages of the story.
2. Discipline
Readers lean on their discipline to satisfy their minds. No Reader begins a book only to read a few pages per month. On the other hand, Readers count on their discipline, fueled by their curiosity, to keep reading whatever calls to them. Making the conscious decision to read every morning or every night is the discipline Readers are known for. Yet, not all books inspire the same curiosity. Hence, sometimes, the discipline to keep going is affected. However, the key point here is not to force yourself through a story you are not interested in unless, for some reason, you must travel it, but to understand what our curiosity and discipline can tell us regarding our real investment into something. So, when you invest your mind into an idea, task or project, fuel your discipline with your curiosity and stick to your plan; consistency beats intensity. However, when your curiosity is missing, and being disciplined feels like a burden rather than a necessary attitude, analyse how significant what you are following is. Are you investing your time into something that is not nurturing you? Or are you exercising your discipline to achieve what makes your thoughts rush?
3. Analytical Thinking
Readers must be analytical to understand and find pleasure in their journeys. When a Reader’s curiosity fuels an attitude of discipline, and that discipline creates a routine to enjoy and reach the conclusion of the book, they now only rely on their analytical thinking to process the pages before them. Once again, no matter the book’s author, genre or topic, all Readers are constantly analysing what their eyes see. Dialogue between characters, an argument regarding the book’s subject, or a landscape description requires analysis, as the deconstruction of what the author describes makes the journey an absolute pleasure. Therefore, it is also important to mention that while reading a book, Readers strive to reach the ending of the story. However, they also know and treasure what lies between this ending and the first pages: the journey. Thus, when embarking on a journey, work to reach its conclusion and be analytical of every step you take, but never forget that the journey is as important as the ending.
Readers are active minds as they submerge themselves into unknown worlds, ideas, and thoughts. New stories, people and feelings drive their minds. So, as Readers do, in your journey, use your curiosity to ask questions every step to create the best path towards your last chapters. Also, be disciplined, and use the motivation and curiosity that comes with discipline to understand whether you are misplacing your energy or not. And finally, be analytical of the steps you take. However, don’t let your analytical mind obstruct the fact you are on your journey now, not tomorrow or next year. We invite you to adopt The Reader’s Mindset as we make the most of every step of our journey.
If you want to know more about The Dysania Concept, read more in the ‘Who We Are’ section of the website, follow us on social media, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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