Reading: The Habit That Expands Your Life

Reading

Elton Mesa

Discipline leads to life: The benefits of reading

Welcome to Discipline Leads to Life, a weekly guide to living with focus, discipline, and purpose. Discover silence, solitude, and practical habits that transform your life.

Subscribe now to receive these reflections directly in your inbox and begin your journey toward a truly centered life.

“In reading and writing, you cannot lay down rules until you have learnt to obey them. Much more so in life.”

– Marcus Aurelius

Reading

Reading is one of the most efficient ways to acquire knowledge, with the ability to accelerate our learning process. Through reading, we develop strong reasoning, positivity, optimism, and a broader perspective on life. By reading, we learn from those who have succeeded in pursuing their dreams—whether in research, finance, relationships, or other areas. Seeing other people succeed in what they do makes us question our own lives, and this reflection leads us to the realization of what we truly pursue.

Reading is a healthy habit that we should cultivate. I believe it is one of the most nutritious foods for our minds, as it helps us adopt a new mental attitude filled with thoughts that promote positivity.

Benefits of Reading

  • Mental clarity
  • Improved vocabulary
  • Increased creativity, optimism, and positivity
  • Stronger logical reasoning
  • Broader perspective on life
  • Mindset transformation

The Impact of Reading on Our Lives

Reading is one of the most powerful tools for self-knowledge. By gaining access to new information, we can explore the depths of our being—our aspirations, desires, fears, and doubts. In doing so, we develop a deeper understanding of our soul. Each written word carries wisdom and power.

Books hold a vast range of knowledge. This knowledge can be used to your advantage to solve challenges, expose yourself to new experiences, and expand your perspective. A book has the power to preserve wisdom for generations.

“If you are to lose all the money you have, lose it acquiring knowledge and wisdom, because money is temporary, but wisdom is a principle that resides in eternity.”
— Elton João Mesa

Dedicate yourself to building the habit of reading and working on your personal development. As you progress in this journey, you will notice that other areas of your life improve as well. I agree with Jim Rohn’s words: “Your level of success will rarely exceed your level of personal development.”

Commit yourself daily to seeking knowledge. From life experience, I have discovered that knowledge is power. As you advance in this constant pursuit of wisdom, you will feel your spirit come alive, gain awareness of your own power, influence your actions, and develop a strong position in the world.

Practical Advice

Be aware of the challenges you face. By identifying your difficulties, seek knowledge that provides the tools to solve them. This is one of the most effective ways I know to absorb the wisdom found in books.

Every piece of knowledge practiced transforms us. We begin to overcome fears and doubts, adopt a new perspective on life, and make tangible progress. Most of the time, before starting a book, I identify what I want to change in my life and then focus on learning about that specific challenge. I apply this approach to all areas of my life—spiritual, financial, and physical.

A Common Mistake When Reading

It is common to see people acquiring random knowledge. Even if a book is excellent, there are times when that knowledge cannot be applied. The mistake lies in seeking knowledge you don’t actually need. This doesn’t mean the knowledge is without value, but that acquiring it may have no impact at the moment.

As a result, some people develop a kind of “mental obesity,” filling their minds with knowledge irrelevant to their current circumstances. In such cases, knowing too much can actually make decision-making more difficult.

How to Create the Habit of Reading

The first step is to know your goals. What do you want to improve in your life? Be clear about why you want to establish this habit and how it will impact your life.

Once you identify your goals, analyze what you need to learn to achieve them—the themes, lessons, and their order.

The second step is to start small. In my own experience, I made minimal effort at first—reading just one page a day. These small daily wins helped me stay consistent even during difficult times. On busy days, I would still read at least a page, sometimes just half a page, and occasionally even a single sentence. Why? Because the most important thing was reinforcing the habit until it became part of who I am.

As James Clear says: “The real goal is not to read a book, but to become a reader. It’s not to write a book, but to become a writer. It’s not to win once, but to keep winning.”

Continuing to read, especially in difficult times, solidifies the habit. It may seem small, but over time, this simple act builds incredible wisdom.

“True change is identity change.”
— James Clear

There are countless areas of life you can study—finances, relationships, spirituality, physical health, and more. Each field offers profound insights through books.

The Importance of Routine in Reading

When adopting the habit of reading, it is essential to establish a routine, ideally supported by healthy habits. Routine makes reading simple and consistent because it sets aside a specific time each day for the practice. Without a set time and place, habits are difficult to maintain.

Consciously decide when and where you will read. By doing this, you make it easier to follow through.

The Best Time of Day to Read

I believe the best time to read is when the mind is most receptive and free from pressure. At these moments, we absorb knowledge more effectively and are fully immersed in the reading process.

Personally, I prefer reading early in the morning, around 5 a.m. At this time, I am free from the pressures of the day, and my mind is completely open to new ideas.

Reading at Night

Reading at night also has powerful effects. It elevates our thoughts, calms the mind, and makes us more receptive to new lessons. Often, we wake up with the ideas we read still fresh in our minds. Reading at night shapes our thinking and creates new patterns of thought.

Why Do Some People Start Reading Strongly and Then Lose Momentum?

From experience, I believe the reason is trying to start too big. Many people begin by reading 20–30 pages a day. While this is positive, it is difficult to sustain when adversity comes. Energy and motivation fluctuate. That’s why it is important to start small, build the habit first, and only later focus on increasing volume.

Remember: you cannot improve something that does not yet exist. Build the habit first—then expand it.

My Vision

Learning, in a broad sense, along with conscious practice, influences our spiritual growth. I consider them spiritual nourishment, as they guide us toward eternity. They are among the few treasures we take with us at the end of life.

Life itself is a learning journey. Every experience, person, and situation is stored in the soul and carried into the next stage of existence. Personally, I believe life does not end at death. We will live eternally, and with time, expand our level of consciousness through each experience we acquire. In truth, we are walking toward perfection.

Thank you for reading

I hope it helped you in some way

I wish you all the best

Follow me on social media:

About this newsletter:
You’re receiving this email because you subscribed to Discipline Leads to Life, my weekly newsletter on building discipline, living with purpose, and creating a centered, meaningful life.

Each week, I share practical insights, inspiring reflections, and one question for you to think about during the week. Occasionally, I send longer messages on habits, consistency, and personal growth.

Your inbox, your choice — manage your profile, unsubscribe from Discipline Leads to Life, or pause all emails anytime.

Discipline leads to life

I’m a dedicated discipline practitioner and lifelong learner committed to living a purposeful, centered life. Through honest, practical insights shared in weekly messages, I support a growing community focused on building real habits and making steady progress. No hype—just genuine encouragement to help you become your best self.