I have an example: reading classics. Not long ago, I made it a goal to read as many classics as I could. I figured it would enrich my mind. And besides, aren’t books considered “classics” for a reason?

Moby Dick was on my list, and so were others. I found a great used book store in Wisconsin called the Frugal Muse and picked up dozens of old books for about $20. It was great, and I thought I was on my way to literary enlightenment…

Well, turns out, there are lots of boring books out there. Maybe I’m dense, but nothing will put me to sleep faster than reading about some old man trying to find some fish (though, ironically, a different book with that same premise — Old Man and the Sea — is one of my favorites). Don’t get me wrong, though. I love some classics, like Catcher in the Rye, Separate Peace, Cat’s Cradle, Picture of Dorian Gray, Brave New World, Atlas Shrugged, etc. Just because I like one classic, though, doesn’t mean I’ll like all of them.

So what did I find out?

Turns out that I liked the idea of reading a bunch of classics, but I didn’t really like doing it. Or at least not all classics. I tried to convince myself that I liked reading them – I think I even told strangers that I was going back and reading them (they asked of course, since it would be pretentious otherwise).

More importantly, why did I think that I was supposed to like classics? Maybe I was more concerned about appearing smart than actually doing something that I love. Who knows?

How often does that happen in our lives? We think we’re supposed to like something because abstractly, it’s great and wonderful, etc. But in reality we don’t like doing it.

Life moves quickly, and I often assume that things are supposed to be one way. When I stop to think about it, I’m wrong. Do what you like, and avoid the things that you don’t like, unless it’s unavoidable (e.g. taxes). But don’t trick yourself into thinking that you like something when you really don’t.

Ideas are the seeds of personal growth. Our minds aren’t always constantly engaged. For example, when I plop in front of a computer to watch The Office, I turn my brain off. So when your brain is engaged, there’s a good chance it might produce some neat stuff. And when it does, you want to make sure that you capture it.

I carry around either a pad of paper or some index cards to jot ideas down. It doesn’t really matter what the idea is. If it was worth engaging my brain at all, I’ll jot it down. Later, I can decide whether they’re good or bad. At least this way, I don’t lose any ideas, and I don’t go about the rest of my day with that awful feeling of trying to remember something.