How Reading Fiction Can Benefit You SELF-HELP BOOKS CAN’T DO IT ALL
Many CEOs and other successful individuals continually espouse the benefits of regular reading. Many times, leaders read self-help books to improve their leadership skills and become more successful. This is all well and good, but even the most successful people in the world could be missing out on the unique benefits that come specifically from reading fiction. But what are those benefits exactly? GREATER EMPATHY When a psychologist analyzed 86 functioning MRI (fMRI) studies, he found that the same parts of the brain that fire up when reading fictional stories also fire up when we’re seeking to understand the thoughts
breaks, or else we’ll stress ourselves out and negatively affect other areas of our lives. Stress tends to keep us from sound sleep, but reading fiction before bed engages the imagination, taking us away from the stresses of everyday life before we drift off. MORE COMFORTWITH UNCERTAINTY Even though many stories (particularly those portrayed in popular movies) have nice happy endings, most people would agree that life sometimes leaves things a little more open-ended. While this fact might stress out some people, researchers have discovered that fiction readers don’t need “cognitive closure” as much as nonfiction readers.
GREATER HAPPINESS
and feelings of others. That’s because when the characters in the book we’re reading are thinking or feeling a certain way, we tend to think or feel that way with them.
Even if none of the benefits of fiction interest you, everyone wants to find ways to make themselves happy — and for many, that is reading fiction. According to one
LESS STRESS AND BETTER SLEEP When we read fiction specifically, we tend to disengage from the world — and that’s a good thing! Our brains can’t always
survey, 76% of participants said that reading makes them feel good and improves their lives. So, what are you waiting for? Dust off that novel you’ve been meaning to read and crack it open!
be functioning at their peak capacity. We need
I Can See Clearly Now PATIENT VICKI CONDO SHARES HER SURGERY EXPERIENCE Vicki Condo never planned to get plastic surgery, but a medical issue changed her plans. She knew that her upper eyelids were starting to droop but learned during a vision test that they were actually obstructing her sight. “I got scared that it would get worse, and I wouldn’t be able to drive,” she remembered. Someone she knew had recently seen Dr. Scott for an “eyelid lift” with great results, so Vicki decided to give him a call. “I also had bags under my eyes,” Vicki said, “so Dr. Scott told me, if I was interested, it would be best to have the upper and lower eyelids addressed at the same time.” In the end, she had a cosmetic treatment on her lower lids, and since the upper lids were considered medical, health insurance covered that part. She notes, “I’m normally a nervous Nellie when it comes to any kind of surgery, but Dr. Scott has the best bedside manner. Right away, you know when you click with a doctor, and I just liked him and his mannerisms.” Including preparation and recovery, the entire outpatient procedure took under six hours, with the surgery itself lasting around 90 minutes. Vicki got nervous on the way there, but Dr. Scott, the nurses, and the other staff
quickly put her at ease. “My husband said he’d never seen me so calm,” she remembers. “There’s just something about Dr. Scott that’s very reassuring.”
About her recovery, Vicki laughed, saying, “You look crazy the first few days after the procedure. My husband was hysterical; he had a great time.” But Dr. Scott had explained the recovery process in detail before surgery, so Vicki knew what to expect. “The healing and aftercare happened exactly like they said it would. I’m very happy with the work.” Vicki has been married for 37 years and has two grown children, but jokes, “I’ll never have grandchildren; I’ll have to have a granddog.” She lives what she calls “a quiet life” as a homemaker, and she enjoys spending time with friends and walking at Great Falls Park. “Having surgery on your eyes is pretty scary,” Vicki admits, but she’s very glad she went through with the procedure. “I told Dr. Scott I’d rather have less than more done, and he did exactly what he promised. If you ever need this kind of work done, I definitely recommend Dr. Scott.”
2 www.EyePlasticMD.com
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