I recently purchased a used book. I prefer new books, however this book is out of print and used was my only option. As I began reading this book, I found myself really warming up to the style of the author and felt he had much to offer me. This book provided other ways to look at things I had already considered, as well as perspectives I had not yet even thought about. Some things I had been resisting became very clear to me. I began to read, I noticed the previous reader had underlined passages here and there throughout the pages. I found myself paying attention to the passages the previous owner underlined, and I was amazed how much I agreed with those passages in particular. It was very easy to agree with every single underlined passage. Reading along, I noticed the underlined passages dwindled and eventually disappeared altogether. Initially, I wondered if I would lose interest in the book as the previous reader evidently had. I continued to read and found myself feeling more and more grateful for the opportunity to read this author’s thoughts. I felt as if he understood the path I am on and was providing me with very helpful assistance. Throughout the book, I found myself wondering why the previous reader lost interest. There were no more underlines. I went back through the marked passages and reread them. Not the whole book, just the marked passages. I have seen many books with markings toward the beginning that did not continue throughout the entire book. I always wondered if the person who marked the book ever finished it. Then, I remembered a speaker who spoke at a seminar and what I learned from her that day. She spoke eloquently about growth and change, and about moving forward out of our comfort zones. She commented that moving forward through that process could be accompanied by discomfort and resistance. Many people get so uncomfortable, they retreat from change. Part way through her comments, she asked us to look at the notes we had been taking. Her theory was that every note we had written down was confirmation of what we already understood and agreed with. So we were spending our time writing confirmation of our current mindset in order to remain exactly where we already were. And, while we were writing down what we already agreed with, we were missing the information that we came to hear. I believe what I observed in my book was a similar scenario to what I learned in the seminar. The underlined passages were general information that would be very easy to agree with. Is it possible that the previous reader didn’t finish the book because they already agreed with the message? Or, they may have loved it because they found it so agreeable. Or, perhaps they finished the book and benefited greatly. We will never know. In any case, here is what I do know. I used to be at the head of the class for taking notes that confirmed what I already agreed with. The same goes for reading books and marking passages that I already agreed with. I was well on my way to staying exactly where I already was. I wanted to change how I think, without changing what I thought at all. Now when I read a book, I highlight the passages I have difficulty accepting. When I go to a seminar I generally don’t take notes because I want to be present enough to hear everything. There are times when I will write down things I don’t agree with. When I feel resistance, I may write down what is being said so that I may receive an opportunity to explore my current mindset on the matter at a later time. Next time you pick up a great book, try marking the passages you have difficulty agreeing with. If you feel resistance, read the chapter another time or two. Pay attention when you feel resistance while attending a seminar. Choose to be in your present heart and be open when you don’t agree.
