Can you
still recall the cartoon series featuring Wily Coyote and the Roadrunner?
“Fast”
brings back the image of the Roadrunner zooming past the obstacles laid out by
Wily Coyote.
Speed may allow you to arrive at
your intended destination; but along the way, were you able to take note of the
things that you may have missed while speeding along the fast lane? As in
driving, zooming in fast does not give enough opportunity to see and enjoy the
view. The same can be said about learning.
Much of
what you learn can be acquired through reading. The simple activity of getting
in a comfortable position and start reading a book of your choice opens a new
world for you. Reading enables you to tap into the minds of great people.
The
more you read, the more you know. In the hope of reading more books, some
attempt fast track reading. It is believed that the faster you read, the more
you cover.
Fast track
reading may involve reading by phrases and concepts compared with the
word-for-word method. Fast track reading enables you to cover more pages with
the same rate. However, one limitation of this method of learning is that you
tend to remember only a small portion of the main idea. There is danger that
you might miss the important details in the book.
There
is a solution for this. Few people are aware of this seldom-talked about
technique in fast learning. This is based on the principle that the mind thinks
in pictures.
Learning
is accelerated when you “see” the whole idea of the write-up or book. Seeing “live
pictures” of ideas and thoughts of the writer makes reading experiential and
unforgettable. When you see nothing while reading, you learn nothing. Fast
reading becomes useless.
This
technique is called visualization. Visualization is vital to quick learning.
Visualization in reading is like constructing a jigsaw puzzle where pieces are
put together to form the whole picture. The whole thing not only “appears,” but
actually “comes alive” before you. All of these happen in the realm of the
mind.
Just
going through the motions of fast reading can give you a hazy picture of the
subject matter. But like a mist, this picture often quickly evaporates into
thin air. Fast reading without visual pictures often informs but very seldom
impresses.
Impressions
last while information changes with time. Past information is easily forgotten
in favor of new ones. Impressions change you, and these are stored permanently
in the mind.
For learning to become effective,
it requires brief pauses to be able to visualize and reflect. Effective
learning is not about how fast you can finish reading a book. It is more on how
you effectively comprehend the ideas brought forth by the writer.
Visual pictures provide lasting impressions. Go after ideas and how it
will enrich people’s existence. Go for lasting impressions and insights that
will mold you into better individuals.
BY TARUN
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