Sometimes we have moments in our lives when we are searching for the perfect read.

Are we craving a self-help book on dealing with our anger or a spiritual book to ground us and open our hearts to our higher power or are we simply looking for a new recipe? Are we searching for that perfect picture book to invigorate our creativity or looking to escape with some light or shapely fiction?

From my experience, the most avid readers, not necessarily the most “well read” according to scholarly standards, have as many as ten books going at one time. For me, it’s best if I have one for each role or piece of my universal creative energy such as:

• Parenting books—I always have one nearby when I’m doubting my decisions or even just angry with my boys.
• A “diet” book—cookbook, the latest diet trend, anything to keep me conscious of what type of fuel I’m running on.
• A recovery book relating to the 12 steps—daily affirmations, etc.
• A book on an artist of interest—with lots of pictures to inspire creativity and let the universal creative energy flow.
• A piece of delicious fiction for when I need to escape from all of my to do lists and immerse myself in someone else’s drama.

No matter where you are in life and whatever your mind is craving—if you pick up a book and you’re thinking about other things its best to switch gears! What are you thinking about that’s distracting you? Research it!

The library is a great source for this and I keep a tab open in my browser all the time to search for the subject or the book (I also scan Amazon for titles and enter them as public library sites leave something to be desired). I often check out 5 books at a time—some I’ll just flip through and take notes on—some I have to check out again and some go right back in the bag to check out at a later date or even to never open again.

Your higher power and your creative universe will lead you towards what your mind and heart are craving.

For example, If you tried downhill skiing and you didn’t like it so much (for whatever personal reason like fear of heights or it isn’t your thing to hang out in the cold) would you force yourself to endure the panic and pressure of doing it again or would you switch gears and decide “I don’t like outdoor sports in the winter, I’m afraid of heights and I’m only doing it to impress this guy?” At these times we need to listen to ourselves and do what feels right in the moment. Life is too short to spend time doing something you hate.

Put down that classic novel if reading a fashion magazine is what you feel is calling you today. I tend to read fashion magazines in the fall and spring when I’m switching out my closet and need to be inspired—that’s okay too. If you’re sick and you need to read Us magazine because you just can’t comprehend a single sentence, do that today!

This all being said, while in college as an English major I had to endure enough classics to make anyone run to a People magazine as soon as the semester was over. But had I not been exposed to Hawthorne, Bronte or Poe, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

Nobody likes a quitter? I disagree. If you are truly an avid reader there will be times where you open up Tolstoy again after a three year break and discover the deliciousness of his prose. But you have to be in the mindset to soak up all the details and be prepared to dig in. Simply put—you need to be in the right place and open to what you are reading.

Remember: reading is a deeply personal endeavor and should be treated as such.

Your imagination is what makes reading so exciting. No one reads a book quite the same way— join a book club if you don’t believe me. On that note—if you are in a book club and you aren’t enjoying the book—put it down, read something else and go to the next meeting with an open mind—you’ve always got access to the book again and can approach it with new eyes when the mood strikes you. You may not have read the book but you’ll enjoy the social aspect of the book club and maybe even learn something new!

The only accomplishment you get from reading is a new perspective, the knowledge you gain and the enjoyment (in the moment) you feel at the time. The enrichment that can be gained by reading a cookbook while drinking a cup of coffee and making your grocery list is priceless—indulge! But put it down if you’d rather bury yourself in a self-help or recovery book because you are weepy today.

Put down what’s not serving you today. It’ll be there tomorrow.

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Editorial Assistant: Holly Horne/Editor: Bryonie Wise

Photo: elephant archives