I am a book junkie - especially non-fiction. Those who know me understand I am dangerous in a book store with money in my pocket. But I have turned a corner in my love of books. Instead of reading books, I am cultivating them, like I would a field of grain. There is so much good being written on the topic of burnout prevention. To merely read the books and move on without cultivating the great concepts into my journey, I'm wasting my time. The learning must make an average of a 4-5 foot drop (from the head to the feet...from mere knowledge to the practical journey).
I challenge you to start cultivating your books instead of just reading them. Here are 6 steps to help you start your journey of personal growth as you read non-fiction:
- PRAY. Ask God to help use the words and concepts of your chosen book to reach out to you in new, fresh ways. Ask His Holy Spirit to nudge you where you must grow.
- FLY OVER. Prayerfully scan the table of contents. As your eyes go from one chapter title to another, select the chapter that seems best to you and the Holy Spirit to read.
- REPEAT, REPEAT. Read your chosen chapter over and over again at least 4 times. As you read, keep a notepad to the side and jot down any thoughts or ideas that come to you.
- MORPH. Take the list of thoughts and ideas and carefully morph them into a couple action steps you can commit to doing over a set time frame (say a 2-week period).
- PERSIST. Ask a trusted friend or colleague to hold you accountable to the couple action steps you are committing to do.
- REVIEW. After your chosen time frame, stop and reflect on the journey. Was it helpful? How did you grow personally? Where was it difficult? What insights did you gain about yourself or others? How are you different than when you started cultivating the chapter?
Make cultivating part of your life's journey as you seek to serve others and you'll be Serving Strong!
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