Once
again I blew my monthly book buying budget! With a library of over a hundred or
so books, I made a promise to myself I
would restrict my purchases to only two books a month. I’m sure you want to
know what it used to be but I don’t want to fully admit my obsession is out of
control. But who can resist the temptation of new books? Books are my life. Raise
your hand if you have the same challenge I do when it comes to books. If you
raised your hand I see you and feel your pain.
It
never fails that I end up engaging with someone at least once or twice a week
about a book either of us have read or want to read. Just last week my daughter
and I got into a deep conversation regarding the memoirs of Kerry Washington
and Viola Davis, while at the same time talking about what our next reads would
be. I have conversations with hubby, my sisters, clients and my mastermind
group regularly about reading.
Why
do I love books so much? For me the magic of books stems from memories of my
Mom taking us to the library every two weeks. Since I was a little girl in
Tulsa, Oklahoma I never stopped going to the library. I
love the library because it is a sanctuary for book lovers like me. I have multiple
library cards. The joy of living in the Kansas City area is that I can have
cards in Kanas and in Missouri. The library is not just a building; for me it's
a gateway to endless possibilities and hidden treasures of wisdom that never
fails to captivate my imagination.
The
library has come a long way and I’m thankful for technology which allows me to
download books and even order them in advance. But there’s something about
browsing the shelves filled with so many types of books including the ones I
have personally written. You can never imagine the joy of seeing your book on a
library shelf beside other authors. My biweekly trips to the library only
contribute to my loaded bookshelves and enjoyment of books. From classic literature to modern bestsellers, there is
always something new to explore and learn.
Before you think I am doing an advertisement for the library, let
me move on. It came as no surprise that a strengths-based assessment indicates
I am a life-long learner. I didn’t need an assessment to tell me what I already
knew. All I had to do was look at my bookshelves, review my Amazon account and
scan my library record to determine I love learning. I really enjoy reading non-fiction
books, biographies and autobiographies. I only read fiction mostly on vacation
or as a treat to myself.
Non-fiction books are a wonderful way to expand my knowledge on
various subjects. They offer a wealth of information, insights, and
perspectives enriching my understanding of the world and human behavior. From
history to science, self-help to biographies, nonfiction books cover a wide
range of topics, allowing me to delve deeper into areas that interest me the most.
I have girlfriends who accuse me of being a nerd because of my love for
brain/body research.
When I asked myself why I love nonfiction so much, here’s what I
figured out. I love learning from others experience’s and hearing (s)hero
stories. Reading and hearing about other’s lives allows me to grow in ways that
textbooks and lectures never could. They have the power to transport me to
different worlds, introduce me to diverse characters, and teach me valuable
lessons about life, love, empathy, and resilience.
Maybe my love for stories is one of the reasons I enjoy reading
the Bible. The Bible is a rich source of stories captivating readers for
centuries. From tales of love and betrayal to messages of hope and redemption,
the Bible offers a diverse range of narratives resonating with people from all
walks of life. The characters in Biblical stories are complex and multifaceted,
making them relatable to readers facing their own challenges and triumphs.
Exploring the Bible can offer insights into human nature, morality, and
spirituality, making it a timeless and enduring literary treasure for those
seeking wisdom and inspiration.
Reading the New Testament, you learn quickly that Jesus was a
master teacher and storyteller and often used parables to convey profound
truths to his followers. Through simple yet powerful narratives, He was able to
connect with people from all walks of life and communicate complex concepts in
a way to be easily understood and remembered. By sharing these stories, Jesus
not only provided guidance and wisdom but also inspired others to reflect on
their own lives and beliefs. We can learn a lot from Jesus methodology.
What really makes Bible stories so powerful is our ability to find
meaning in them and learn lessons we can apply to our own lives. Not just
lessons, but life changing lessons. Have you ever been encouraged to memorize
scripture? There are certain scriptures I have memorized especially because
they provide immediate solutions and help me when I need advice, consolation and
encouragement. However, I used to beat myself up for not memorizing more.
From a small child I was encouraged to memorize scripture and recite
the Sunday school lesson scripture verbatim. Why are we encouraged to memorize
scripture? By committing verses to memory, they had the power to hold in our minds
the answers we need. A perfect example of how scripture can help us in our time
of need is the story of Jesus using scripture to resist Satan’s temptations in
the desert.
When reading the Bible I love to read from many translations. If I
don’t get it in the King James version I read it in an easier version. What
often happens as a result of this is that if I am trying to place them in my
memory I will remember how the scripture speaks to me rather than verbatim.
This is what I call “Learning it by Heart.”
What is learning by heart? Learning by heart is not just about the
memorization I did when cramming for tests in college. Cramming is not real
learning. How many of you can remember the information you crammed in your head
in high school or college? It’s not your fault, learning experts have known for
centuries that within an hour of learning something almost 50% of the new
knowledge is gone. Add a day and an average of 70% of what we learned is gone
completely.
That’s why in my Christian Counseling practice I encourage my
clients to “learn it by heart.” When you truly learn something by heart, it
becomes deeply ingrained in your memory, allowing you to recite its meaning
almost effortlessly. This suggests a level of familiarity and understanding going
beyond mere rote memorization, implying a strong emotional connection to the
material. Learning something by heart can help you truly internalize and
understand the information, making it a part of you in a way that is unique and
special.
What is learning by heart? Learning by heart is not just about the memorization I did when cramming for tests in college. Cramming is not real learning. How many of you can remember the information you crammed in your head in high school or college? It’s not your fault, learning experts have known for centuries that within an hour of learning something almost 50% of the new knowledge is gone. Add a day and an average of 70% of what we learned is gone completely.
That’s why in my Christian Counseling practice I encourage my clients to “learn it by heart.” When you truly learn something by heart, it becomes deeply ingrained in your memory, allowing you to recite its meaning almost effortlessly. This suggests a level of familiarity and understanding going beyond mere rote memorization, implying a strong emotional connection to the material. Learning something by heart can help you truly internalize and understand the information, making it a part of you in a way that is unique and special.
It was a no brainer for me. In years of giving and receiving
coaching I have always had an electronic space to replay or revisit when I
couldn’t remember instructions or needed to share additional information to
dive deeper. It works for me and for my clients. I still have clients who still
access my coaching materials as needed. Whether they are accessing videos,
worksheets, lessons, maps, etc. they still find them useful. The more I thought
about it, it made sense to create the same type of access for counseling clients
who often need additional support between sessions.
It just so happens that I have counseled clients who are mental
health professionals themselves. Each time I shared my system with them, they quickly
inquired about my system and determined that they needed one of their own. I
was more than happy to share but they were concerned about having to manage the
technology.
The last time it happened I had one of those Esther 4:14
moments…”Perhaps this is the moment for which you been created.” That’s when I
figured out why God had placed me in a position to be a learning management
administrator (LMS) for 20 years, a learning and development leader for 16
years, a coach for 8 years and a counselor for 4 years.
Allow me to introduce to you Pearls Perfected Institute, the home
of the exclusive “Learn it By Heart” Client Learning Portal. Shaking up how
mental health and wellness experts share knowledge with easy-to-use client
learning technology. Level up your game and your client’s success by helping
your clients to “Learn it By Heart.”
Visit Pearls
Perfected Institute to learn more or to schedule a demo.
Blessings,
Dr. Janice R. Love
CEO Founder Pearls Perfected Institute
