By AJ Pengelly, author of 'Master of the Keys'
A J Pengelly
There is no doubt that most of the opportunities for us to develop, grow or learn life's lessons come from unpleasant challenges and traumas. One of the huge benefits from reading books, magazines or web-articles is that we get the opportunity to develop and learn new things from other people's experiences whether they be good or bad, upsetting or uplifting.
Most of the books I have written are deliberately set out to help self-development, spiritual growth and healing through the genre of Mind Body and Spirit. However, there are many other styles of book that can assist the reader to grow. Writers are always encouraged to write what they know whether this be a murder mystery, a travel documentary or a book on business and they can use their own subject under many guises to get their readers attention. They can also put their message of empowerment, inspiration, personal development etc. into a story for the benefit of the reader without creating a dry narrative or being preachy!
Here are ten ways that I believe books can offer personal development:
- Understanding other people's perspective and view on life. We each have a unique way of viewing the world depending on our culture, childhood and personal experiences of life. An author can help us have the understanding without actually having to go through the experience e.g. I was profoundly affected by Frank McCourt's childhood as described in his book 'Angela's Ashes' and inspired by the way he used his experiences of early adversity to empathise with children and become a brilliant teacher.
- Revealing conspiracies and dirty tricks. John Grisham's thriller, 'Gray Mountain', was an eye-opener for me. His heroine Samantha Kofer fought to uncover the bad practices and evil doings of mining companies in the Appalachian Mountains of America where they are destroying the environment and people's lives through open cast mining. The story was filled with suspense and through the story I shared the research and investigative work John had put into his book.
- How to overcome past trauma and heal by the example of the protagonists in a book of fiction. Most authors like to give their stories a happy ending and show their main characters overcoming obstacles, discovering something new or healing an inner wound. In my book my male lead is a soldier with PTS and his ability to let go and heal his past is a theme that will run through all three books in the series. J K Rowling uses Harry Potter, an unlikely hero, to show him overcoming the loss of his parents and battling the world's darkest evil.
- Gaining expertise. When any expert shares their own knowledge we have an obvious and deliberate opportunity to learn and grow. Whenever I have a new challenge to overcome in my life whether in the kitchen, in business or how to get my iPad to work, I get a book or google a blog. Thank goodness writers are prepared to share their knowledge!
- Empathy with protagonists. When a book of fiction is well written and the characters are well constructed then we can empathise through their experiences. We can feel what they experience; suffer their pain and share their joy. An author can use the inner voice of their characters to share their emotions and thoughts giving us a chance to develop compassion and empathy.
- Inspiration to be creative. A book can start us off on a new creative track and give us the ideas that can inspire us to try things we haven't dared to try before.
- Be empowered by action. An author who writes with passion can awaken latent desires and impulses to get you to move forward and help yourself, to help others and to change the world. Both fiction and non-fiction show us ways that we can fight injustice by example and putting us in touch with other people with like minds.
- Suspense and conspiracy act as the wheels to get our attention. In my own book 'Master of the Keys' I have deliberately used menace and danger to give tension to the book to keep my reader's attention. This way I can introduce my own subject - methods for healing and empowerment - and through the thrill of the story keep my reader interested.
- Endurance and courage. Any story that shares the author's ability to overcome adversity and finding deep resources of courage can open us to our own hidden resources. In 'Touching the Void', Joe Simpson shared his experiences of a catastrophic climbing accident where he crawled for a day back a base camp with a broken leg. I took every inch of that journey with him! I just hope I could be as courageous and stoic as him if it came to it. Hopefully my fear of heights will keep me safely on the ground!
- Uplifting our spirits. I love books that make me smile. Books can lift up our spirits, make us laugh and put us in a positive state of mind. What a gift to make people happy through your writing! Being a dog owner and lover the book 'Marley and Me' by John Grogan had me smiling for weeks after reading the story of the author's really badly behaved Labrador.
Without doubt writers can help us in many ways; through sharing their own inner voice, the thoughts and emotions of their protagonists and by stretching our understanding as we open to new beliefs and perceptions in our reading. And all without leaving the sofa! Great.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A.J. Pengelly is the pseudonym for renowned author and inspirational speaker Anne Jones. Her books in the fields of self-development and spirituality have been translated in over 17 languages. She lives in the New Forest National Park in England with her husband Tony and two Labradors.
Her latest book, Master of the Keys, is an entirely new genre designed to bring symbolic thought and self-empowerment into the periphery of the mainstream. Her aim is to help others tap into their inner resources so that they too can discover their true potential.