Tis the good reader that makes the good book; in every book he finds passages which seem to be confidences or sides hidden from all else and unmistakably meant for his ear; the profit of books is according to the sensibility of the reader; the profound thought or passion sleeps as in a mine, until it is discovered by an equal mind and heart.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
I love Emerson’s insights; they’re like a cup of coffee for the soul—just the jolt I need to pause and ponder life’s sneaky little truths that often slip past during my daily hustle. Imagine realizing that your mind and heart are on par with history’s influential thinkers and modern gurus. It’s like discovering you’ve been invited to an intellectual VIP party.
Sometimes, reading a book feels like the author is whispering ancient wisdom into my ear, stirring up truths I’d buried under grocery lists and Netflix queues. Suddenly, I’m hit with an “Aha!” boomerang moment, as if I’m remembering something I already knew but had misplaced—like trying to find my keys every morning.
After I give a keynote talk, people often tell me, “Were you reading my mind? That was exactly what I needed to hear!” I chuckle and say, “Actually, it was just what I needed to hear. You just joined the self-talk session I was having. If it resonated, it’s because you already had those thoughts swimming around. I just helped you fish them out.”
Here’s the kicker: When something resonates, it’s not new knowledge. It’s like bumping into an old friend you forgot you had.
Emerson puts it best: “There is one mind common to all individual men.” We’re all splashing around in the same pool of Infinite Intelligence, sharing a universal mind where every thought is like a pool noodle—easy to grab onto if you’re open to it.
THE TAKEAWAY: The next time you crack open a book and feel that inner bell ring, realize you’re not learning something new. You’re just dusting off the cobwebs of what you already knew. And surprise! You’re more connected to this universal mind than you thought. You’ve got front-row seats to an infinite source of inspiration.
Remember, as Emerson pointed out, profound thoughts or passions lie dormant until an equal mind and heart come along to awaken them. Consider this: If you resonate with this notion your mind and heart are in the same league as Jesus, Buddha, Confucius, Shakespeare, and even Oprah. Yes, you’re in excellent company. But, of course, you already knew that. 🙂
