With my first, not so good PR start I was very keen on trying what Pete suggested. I searched my shelf and thought a cheap 200 page thriller would do, even though I had read it a year ago. (Actually, BECAUSE I had read it before, so I knew itfs not going to be to scary) But I didnft remember much, only that I didnft like it for various reasons. My first attempt was no good, because my eyes caught single words. So I stopped, turned the book around (thanks, Margaret) did some breathing and soon felt drawn into the story. My first stop was when the good guy discovered some important papers in a desk (the usual - oh, oh - the - bad - one - is - on - itfs way - will - the - good - one - make – it- scene). Next I paused because I was thinking – gsomeone is on the runh, went back a couple or three pages and looked at the page where the hero is sneaking out of room where he was held hostage. Then I thumbed through the book again, in Photofocus, right way up. When I put the book down for good I remember thinking gNow the good one is safe, that should be ith but I felt still restless, insecure. I read the last pages and saw that the chase had indeed lasted up to the page before the last. I was very impressed with the results. Even though I had read the book before, I had never FELT it. Also, just Pring the book triggered memories of what I had read consciously a year ago flowing back into my conscious mind. Now that I am writing this it becomes clear to me that by photoreading I had truly ACTIVATED that old book and felt what it was about, while when I had just read it word by word by conscious mind had been to busy telling me how badly and cheaply written it was.
This might not sound very impressive given the fact that I had read the book before, but the point is, that for the first time I felt something, or rather had thoughts about the book in my hands coming to my mind at all and being aware of it. while gazing at it upside down
Given my experience the day before I tried the same approach, when I had to go through a marketing report on the internet at work. I did not preview, but just scrolled down the text slowly gazing at the text in photofocus and stopped once where I felt I should do so. I was right! This is what I was looking for! Unbelievable. Then my old doubts crept up and I checked: all the information beforehand was indeed not relevant to me.
Thanks to Petefs suggestion I now have a new understanding how Photoreading can be used. It helps to go through information like a search engine. Usually, when I go through a report, even with a very defined goal I tend to get pulled off the track, because I am trying to evaluate consciously whatever meets my eyes, itfs a continuous cycle of stating the purpose/ checking whether my question is answered by what I see/ no-yes/ oh, thatfs interesting, too , or is it?– sidetrack – ouch!!/ what was it again I am reading this for? / stating purposecI now wonder, how long I am going to need to feel comfortable with the new way. Old habitscfeel somewhat safer. Funny enough, even though I had these good experience I still have to build up trust in myself. Letfs do it. Gimme the books!!!
Stick with it, nothing compares with making your own experience.
Jubilee, jubilah
Happyday
PS: Maybe it doesnft have to be so exciting. Yesterday I tried an American contemporary book, just fiction. After a few pages photofocussing I caught myself thinking: gHow boring, description of a suburbh, went back to see that I was right. (Unfortunately I didnft get anything else out of that book.)
