I don’t always learn some profound thing when I read. Sometimes I don’t learn anything at all. Even if I’m reading from the most insightful book on the planet written by the most intelligent author ever, there are days I just can’t absorb anything useful. Although I always try to learn something from my daily excerpt, I can’t say that I’m always successful.
Some days all I see are strings of words; other times those words go in one ear and out the other. Occasionally, I get stuck on one paragraph and end up unintentionally rereading it for an hour. On these days it seems as if the fountain of knowledge bounces off my brain like liquid on a newly waxed car, rejected by the slick surface. That’s the problem with the human mind; it’s not always consistent, has trouble focusing at times, and struggles to understand concepts. Or maybe that’s just me.
There are, however, days when the words and concepts I read pour into my brain with ease, and the author’s intentions appear clear as day. The stories and ideas he presents swirl around in my head and transfer themselves gracefully onto my page. My brain gratefully absorbs the enlightening material like a sponge thirsty for water, wanting more knowledge. Thankfully, I am more prone to these days than I am to the other ones.
This is the truth about reading. If your brain is anything like mine, it can readily absorb or stubbornly reject. In the case of the latter, don’t panic- your brain isn’t dissolving into liquid goo. Just take a break. Come back later, and you’ll find that your brain will be more receptive to reading and comprehending.