Transforming More Lives

This morning, I reflected on a chapter I read that spoke straight to my spirit. It talked about how reading is one of the most transformative activities in the world. Not viewing reading as a chore or an assignment, but as a doorway into wisdom, mentorship, and the mind of greatness. The chapter explained that when we study autobiographies, stories of excellence, and books filled with wisdom, we gain access to the minds of people who spent their whole lives learning, growing, and pouring out truth. Even though we may never sit with them in person, their words become mentors that shape our lives.

I thought about Bella and how she told me she just does not enjoy reading. I understand that because many young people only associate reading with school reading. They remember being told what to read, when to read, and being graded on it. But there is a whole other world of reading that has nothing to do with assignments and everything to do with expansion. There are books that speak directly to your spirit. Books that sharpen you. Books that change your life, and in turn, the lives of everyone around you.

The book said something powerful. It said that reading is underrated and that reading transforms the mind like exercise transforms the body. It reminded me of Cicero and the six mistakes of man. One of those mistakes is neglecting the habit of reading and studying. When we stop reading, our mind stops growing. It starts to weaken. And when the mind weakens, our potential weakens with it.

The chapter mentioned a stat that absolutely stunned me. Forty six percent of college graduates never read another book after graduation. Almost half. That is how undervalued reading has become. We live in a world that says it is easier to watch than read, easier to consume than create, easier to scroll than grow. YouTube, Instagram, Facebook… these platforms make it effortless to sit back and absorb entertainment, but reading requires intention. It requires commitment. It requires desire for self advancement.

But the truth is this. If you want to reach your highest potential, reading cannot be optional. It must be part of your habits, part of your discipline, part of your daily investment into who you are becoming. Reading equips you to take care of your body, your family, your calling, your community. Reading strengthens your identity and helps you live a life of uncommon excellence and service.

So today I remind myself, and I remind Bella, that reading is not a burden. It is a blessing. It is not a chore. It is a gift. It is one of the simplest ways to improve your life, expand your mind, and prepare yourself to give your best to the world. And I am committed to making reading a priority because I believe in the power of becoming better every day… not just for me, but for the ones I love and the lives I am called to impact.

Let us continue to give our best and grow into who we were created to be.