The Power of Books
BY: Jennifer Buford, LMFT
Books ignite our imagination, and, in turn, our imagination enriches our reading experience. Whether we are looking for a form of escape or finding solutions to fix something, imagination can assist, and books offer an opportunity to utilize it.
Books create an escape from your own inner world and offer a peek into the minds of others. This can be part of healing since books can offer new perspectives, feelings of comradery or insights into your own life. I sometimes recommend the book A Mans Search for Meaning by Victor Frankel. Reading this book can be a helpful exercise in distancing ourselves from stressors in life. At times we may fall into the trap of feeling hopeless and stuck in our current struggles; struggles such as pain, suffering, frustration, or even everyday annoyances. Reading other stories whether fiction or not, can create a sense of hope and remind us that life is an experience of consistent change and renewal. Sometimes that change and renewal may only exist in your perception and self-talk, this does not make it any less powerful. Reading can offer coping strategies to assist in maintaining that hope until you have overcome your struggle.
Additionally Don Miguel Diaz’s The Four Agreements can inspire resilience, reminding us that our self-worth and identity should not be dictated by others’ opinions or actions. Or Bruce Perry’s The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, can offer empathy and connection.
Reading awakens our compassion for others, and ourselves. It serves as a mental vacation from our everyday lives. Sometimes we cannot afford a spa day, but diving into a book from the local library can have the same effect. The usefulness of books extends far beyond entertainment. They inspire, foster fellowship and patience, provide insight and serve as a tool in our journey to mental well-being, making them an essential part of personal growth and development.