Transformative Tales: How Reading Shapes Our Core
In a world brimming with endless streams of entertainment, reading fiction seems like a waste of time and something you can’t afford. I, personally, feel guilty when I’m reading fiction. Why? I don’t know. It’s silly. I know that within these stories, we often find ourselves confronted with the most profound truths about humanity, ethics, and the very fabric of our being, and I know it’s important. Transformative tales - even those filled with magick and impossibilities - captivate us and challenge our perspectives. They hold a mirror to the world and to ourselves, urging us to reconsider our beliefs and the way we perceive the world. I did a survey of my subscribers, and most of the people who responded said they didn’t think what they read shaped who they are. One reader even said that if that was the case, it meant their soul was weak.
I disagree. Here’s why.
Choice Of Infection
It’s no secret that what you are what you eat, and that includes what you ingest into your mind, heart, and soul. Who you surround yourself with shapes who you are and the choices you make. What you watch alters how you speak to others. When you doom scroll, it affects who you interact with. And what you choose to read also affects how you interact with the people in your life. You’re more open or close-minded. You’re more hopeful or realistic. You’re more or less caring. It affects everything you do, every interaction. However, you also choose what you read, and that choice also affects how you relate to the people you speak with.
The Mirror of Fiction
At first glance, fiction offers an escape, a portal to worlds unknown and adventures untold. But as we delve deeper, we realize that these stories are more than mere escapism. They are reflections of reality, distorted perhaps, but revealing truths in ways that straightforward facts cannot. Through the eyes of characters vastly different from us, we experience lives we could never live, confront moral dilemmas we've never faced, and navigate cultures and societies unlike our own. This immersive experience is not passive; it's an active engagement that challenges our beliefs and prejudices, compelling us to question the status quo.
Challenging Our Beliefs
Each story we read is an opportunity to challenge our preconceived notions and biases. When we encounter characters and societies depicted in fiction, we're invited to step into the shoes of others, to live their lives and understand their decisions, however foreign they may seem. This process is subtly transformative; it nudges us to reconsider our views on morality, justice, love, and society. A novel set in a culture vastly different from our own can challenge stereotypes and foster empathy, breaking down the barriers of ethnocentrism and xenophobia. Similarly, a narrative that presents moral dilemmas and ethical quandaries forces us to reflect on our own values and the principles by which we live our lives.
Expanding Our Worldviews
Reading is an act of exploration, a journey that takes us beyond the confines of our personal experiences and the limitations of our knowledge. Through stories, we explore new ideas, historical periods, and alternative ways of thinking and being. This expansion of our worldviews is not merely academic; it's deeply personal. By engaging with diverse narratives, we learn to appreciate the complexity of human nature and the myriad ways in which life can be understood and experienced. This appreciation fosters open-mindedness, a willingness to listen, and a readiness to accept that there may be more than one "right" way of looking at the world.
Shaping Our Core Values and Perspectives
The cumulative effect of challenging our beliefs and expanding our worldviews is a profound transformation in our core values and perspectives. Stories have the power to change us, to mold our characters in subtle and significant ways. As we encounter different cultures, beliefs, and ethical dilemmas through reading, we begin to form a more nuanced understanding of right and wrong, of justice, compassion, and humanity. This understanding influences our actions and interactions, shaping us into individuals who are more empathetic, more curious, and more open to the diversity of human experience.
Becoming Better People
Ultimately, the transformative power of reading fiction lies in its ability to make us better people. By exposing us to the breadth and depth of human experience, fiction fosters empathy, cultivates understanding, and encourages a deeper engagement with the world around us. These qualities are essential for building meaningful relationships, for navigating the complexities of modern life, and for contributing positively to society. In a world often divided by differences, reading offers a bridge to understanding, a tool for personal and societal growth.
In Conclusion
The tales we immerse ourselves in do more than entertain; they challenge, expand, and ultimately shape our core. Engaging with diverse narratives confronts us with the unfamiliar, compelling us to question our beliefs and see the world through new eyes. This journey through fiction is not just about acquiring knowledge or escaping reality; it's about becoming more nuanced, empathetic, and open-minded individuals. In the transformative power of reading lies the potential to not only understand the human condition more deeply but to improve it within ourselves and in our interactions with others. So, let us turn the page, immerse ourselves in the myriad stories that await, and embrace the endless possibilities for growth and understanding that they offer.
Give Whiskey Witches: Para Wars a read. It’s a series that both right and left wing consume and neither are commenting on. I think it’s because it’s giving people something to think about and gets them to see that in a lot of instances - not all - we’re saying the same thing.