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Speed Reading Tips: Overcoming the Primary Obstacle in Learning Speed Reading - The Belief Factor
by Ed Caldwell
The
most often asked question I get when people either see me read or when
they submit a question to my website goes like this: "Does it really
work?" Or, "Can you really comprehend when you read really fast?" The
short answer is yes! But behind the question is an assumption (a
belief) that both can not be achieved. This article will explore the
belief behind that question
Because I've been using the skills so long, I've been perplexed about
why this question is so often asked. In my mind, if you're not
understanding or comprehending the material, you're not reading
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You
must be doing something else. Perhaps your mind is wandering - a common
problem with untrained readers. Or, perhaps, you are struggling saying
all the words to yourself (sub-vocalizing) to hear them in your mind
before you believe you understand them. This is surely a block to
effective speed reading because you can only read as fast as you can
hear the words.
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Reading
is defined as the mind's response the printed symbols. With this
definition then, you can only read as fast as your mind can understand
(decode) the symbols. It is a visual process, not a sub-vocal process.
Did you know that some cognitive researchers estimate that our mind can
compute between 80,000 to 100,000 words per minute? That's the speed of
your brain when both the right and left hemisphere are engaged! Do you
believe your brain is that powerful?
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However,
the untrained reader does not utilize both right and left hemispheres
when reading. This can be verified by using an EEG monitor. Because of
the way most people have learned to read, reading has become an
offshoot of processing language - a left hemisphere function. Also,
because the untrained reader usually reads word by word, by nature the
approach is left hemisphere dominant. Traditional forms of reading are
literally half-brained!
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How
many years have you been reading? If you're reading this article, you
have probably been reading for at least 10 years, if not much longer.
That's a long time of ingrained habits. Because these habits are so
ingrained, you have developed a belief system that tells you that's how
to read. Your mind can not comprehend there are other possibilities
without conflicting with your ingrained beliefs. You have a difficult
time imagining doing it any other way.
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Another part of the speed reading vs comprehension belief
system has to do with your own self-image of yourself as a learner. If
you've been struggling as a learner for many years, that defines your
capability in your belief system. On one hand you may desire to become
an effective speed reader who can comprehend anything, on the other
hand, since you don't have the personal experience of having done it
yourself you won't believe it's possible, or you won't believe it's
possible for you.
But beliefs are subjective. They are not facts. Therefore, you can
change your self-limiting beliefs to ones that nurture your growth and
development.
Beliefs do shape our thinking and actions/behaviors. Many of the
beliefs we hold in our mind are self-limiting and will hold us back
until we try new ones instead. However, your self-limiting mind will
initially cause you resist the new patterns of thinking.
Perhaps one of the most-told stories about the power of beliefs was
provided by the great psychologist Abraham Maslow. A patient
refused to eat because he believed that he was a corpse. In
exasperation, the psychiatrist finally asked him if corpses bled. The
patient said that he did not believe so.
The psychiatrist then proceeded to prick him with a pin, after asking
the patient's permission to do so. At which point, the patient started
to bleed. In amazement, he declared, "Wow! Corpses do bleed after all!"
This story illustrates the difficulty you might have when you think
about changing a particular behavior or belief you may have. On one
hand it's simple. On the other hand it's hard to change those habits of
your thinking. What limiting habits of mind/belief do you suffer from?
Are you willing to confront them for your own best interest and
self-development?
In my live courses, we begin the program with the participants filling
out a simple form asking them about their beliefs and experiences as
learners and what they believe about accelerated learning. During
the training if someone appears to be struggling, I look at the form
they filled out. Inevitably, the ones who are struggling have written
negative beliefs about heir own abilities or the possibility of
reading/learning in an accelerated manner.
The great industrialist Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can, or
whether you think you can't, you're right!" In other words, your mind
will rally to support what you hold to be true.
Towards a positive self-improvement direction, the popular
psychologist, Wayne Dyer has said, "You'll see it, when you believe
it!" What do you want to be true about your learning to successfully
read faster, comprehend better, and recall more? Your strong belief
will make it happen so much easier. Perhaps you have no role models
around you. That can be dis-heartening. But the fact is there are many
thousands of speed readers who read fast with good comprehension that I
have trained. There are probably millions worldwide.
In closing, then, speed reading doesn't work. You work it. The road to
comprehension is built as a system, or method. The speed is merely part
of the process. Learning the process may get bumpy at times. So, I'd
like to ask you: What do you believe about your learning abilities?
What do you believe about accelerated learning/reading and you
abilities? What do you believe is possible for your mind's abilities?
What could interfere with your learning these skills, and how can you
overcome these obstacles? As a user for 32 years, I can say, without
these skills my life would be much poorer. I am a believer. I am a
user. You can be too!
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If you found this helpful send it to a friend
or you can use one of these to spread the word.
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