Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ PhotoReading, Memory Optimizer What am I doing wrong??

I listen to the beginning 3 courses over and over again. For the past weeks, I have tried my best to understand what Paul is saying on the tape. But when I tried them, my eyes were strained, and I can't really concentrate on the full page. My eyes would always started to focuse on one small spot of the page. I guess it's because I'm unsure if I'm getting anything from the reading.
I will just call myself Rain. I'm a highschool Junior and is taking alot of Pre-Ap and AP classes. My reading speed had always been my weak point. No matter if it was on tests, or just homeworks. It takes me too long to finish and fully understand what the book or question is trying to express to me.
Then about 3 weeks ago, I found out about Photoreading, and was willing to try it out. I had nothing to lose. But so far. I'm not really going anywhere. What am I doing wrong? What kind of things should I be doing to get along with the course?

Do one course at a time... doing three at once is scattering the energy.

Relax the gaze you're trying to read. You cannot consciously read at that pace so just relax and let your mind take the mental snap shots. PhotoRead the book upside down. It will help you to just let go and do it.

Make sure you do all the exercises as and when Paul says to do them. If you've been doing that you will see results... let go of expectations. PhotoReading isn't what you think it is so any expectations you have are probably not so. This can create blocks for learning... For example what was your experience with the Star of Wonder exercise?

Alex

Thanks for suggesting Alex.

Well, while I was doing the star of wander, it was fustrating on the first try. On the second try, I imagined, as Paul suggested, the star in my mind and how my hands should be moving, and that helped.

I will admite that I have been straining to understand photoreading.
I'm a junior this year as you already know, and I have had little time to do extra stuff other than on weekends. So my purpose in learning Photoreading is to make studying less time consuming and more effective. And also give myself extra time to do things outside school.

I will try to PhotoRead the book upside down, but is it alright to do that while studying?

Rain

I often gain more subsequent "activation" power,
when I have previously photoread the book
upside down.

Reading upside down squelches the tendency
of the conscious mind to try and read the material.
The goal in the photoreading phase is to
gather mental snapshots of the book.

The subconscious starts forming patterns,
based on those mental snapshots, so the less
reading you do and the more focusing on your
own purpose you do, while photoreading,
the more your Reticular Activating System
will allow your conscious mind to absorb
appropriate data, when you begin Activation of
the material.

I hope that helps. It is definitely alright and perhaps
preferable to PhotoRead the book upside down.

The point of the Star exercise is to show you that you when think you already know how to do something it interferes with your approach to doing it when you learn something more. It highlights the importance of using the beginners mind. To cease trying to do it how you think it should be done but to do it how it's advised to be done. Explore and look for your experiences with an open mind.

Alex