When we read, listen, and question the status quo, we grow.
If you know me, you will come to realise that I am naturally curious. I ask questions to understand, rather than assume. I love quotes and I have a subscription to Medium for a daily dip into content for inspiration and perspective. Sometimes a single quote can encapsulate deep insights that resonate more than volumes of literature.
I recently came across an article by Alberto García on Medium, titled "This 1 Quote Is Worth More Than Reading 100 Books". García shares a piece of wisdom from his grandfather that deeply resonates: “There are books that change your life in a sentence and people that change your life in an instant. Both books and people have the power to transform you. That’s why it’s important to know what to read and who to surround yourself with.” How true.
This insight reminds me of the importance of being selective with the content we consume and the company we keep. García elaborates on how he engages with books, extracting and internalising key passages that resonate with him.
The crux of García's message is the profound impact of the information we consume and the interactions we engage in. As Mark Twain wisely noted, “It’s not what you know that gets you into trouble, it’s what you think you know.” Our minds process emotions and information, shaping our self-perception and, ultimately, our life outcomes.
He explains this perfectly with this analogy. The function of the stomach is to digest. — Which is nothing more than processing the food. On the other hand, the mind’s function is to reason, which is to process the emotions and information you consume. So, just as you become what you eat (a healthy guy or an obese guy), you become what your mind eats (reasons).
Therefore, If your mind reasons that you are a loser, guess what? You will be. If your mind reasons that your life sucks, guess what? It will. If your mind reasons that you should disappear because you’re worthless, guess what?
I don’t have to tell you, do I?
García emphasises the importance of maintaining a positive self-image and surrounding oneself with supportive individuals. By doing so, we create a mindset that naturally attracts success in various aspects of life—social, professional, and existential. He concludes with a powerful reminder that investing in our self-esteem and believing in our worth can lead to a better, more fulfilling life.
I encourage you to read García's full article for more insights and reflections on this topic. You can find it here.
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