From Forcing Myself to Read... to Never Wanting to Stop

Once I let myself enjoy stories again, everything changed.

“I’m not a reader.”
“I don’t like to read.”
“I have to force myself to read.”

…all things I hear from people when I ask them if they enjoy reading. This mentality is understandable to me as someone who used to love reading when I was a child, but then started to dislike it more and more as I got older.

It’s because I, as many others do, had this mentality that if I was not reading something that helped me grow, make money, or become more productive, I was just wasting my time. So instead of reading books filled with inspiring stories, beautiful writing, and wholesome entertainment, I made sure that I only read self-help and business books.

My reading journey turned from me being in 6th grade, staying up all night reading books and coming back to the library each week, to barely reading one book a year, if that.

Reading became a chore, something I would force myself to get through so that I can grind more and learn to be a “better businesswoman.” Don’t get me wrong, I did learn a lot, and there are some great nonfiction books out there that I have on my TBR list! However, I am saying that allowing myself to venture into other genres, and opening up to reading stories that have interesting plots, have widened my appreciation for reading tremendously.

I became someone who now absolutely loves to read. But here’s the key: I know what I like and don’t like, and that’s okay. So, my question for you is are you actually someone who doesn’t like to read, or have you just opened the wrong books?

“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."
— C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

I’m not saying I have all the answers to books you’ll love to read, but I do know this—you already read more than you realize. Every day you are reading when you scroll through social media in some capacity. You probably love clicking on a video and scrolling through the comments to read what others are saying or extract more of the story from a reel that didn’t have great context. You scroll through X reading the latest news and people’s opinions on certain topics.

So, you actually do love to read in a certain environment.

Why am I trying so hard to encourage you to read (besides joining my fun book club soon wink wink)? It’s because reading has recently changed my life. I JUST started to enjoy reading within this past year, and it’s because I haven’t been so focused on making sure that every little thing I do is pushing me one step closer to my big break as a CEO boss-babe. Instead, I just decided one day that I was going to be a reader, so I started to allow myself to enjoy reading.

I now read instead of scrolling through social media (though sometimes I do get sucked into the Instagram matrix and feel like my mind has become mush). Besides the occasional mindless scroll, I have turned all of the extra time that I would usually obsess over Instagram into reading a book, and I have seen an immense change in my life.

Reading has given me the chance to feel, sparked my creativity to write, and taught me the patience to slow down. It is honestly so fun!

1. Reading dates
   I’ll go out with a friend or two and read together. We’ll hang out at a cozy coffee shop with our own books and just read quietly. It’s so peaceful and refreshing. I do the same with my husband sometimes, too!

2. Reading instead of the nightly scroll
   Instead of ending my day on Instagram, I grab my book. Right now, I’m reading The Viking by Carrie Cotten. It’s been so much more life-giving to unwind this way instead of comparing myself to strangers online.

3. Reading Substack articles
   I love saving articles on Substack to read later. When I finally get the chance, I sit down, read through them, and either learn something new or feel inspired.

1. Join my book club!
   I’m serious, girl. You’ll have so much fun and maybe even fall in love with reading again (at least I hope so!). As a paid subscriber, you’ll get access to our weekly book club newsletter and our cozy bi-weekly Zoom calls where we dive into the book together.

   We’re starting with Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers—a Christian fiction novel inspired by Hosea and Gomer. I’ve heard incredible reviews, and I can’t wait to begin!

2. Pick up a fiction book
   If you’ve only been forcing yourself through books you don’t love, try fiction. Let yourself get lost in a story—it may surprise you how much it pulls you in.

3. Invite your friends (or your man)
   Reading doesn’t have to be lonely! Grab your girlfriends or your husband, head to a coffee shop, or just make some tea at home and read together. Make it an experience.

This isn’t just another book club where you feel pressure to finish a book on time or read something you don’t even care about. This is a space for women who want to fall in love with reading again, slow down, and be reminded of the beauty of stories.

In our club, you’ll:

• Receive a weekly book club newsletter filled with prompts, reflections, and encouragement.

• Join our bi-weekly cozy Zoom calls where we sip tea (or coffee!) and talk about the book together. It’s less about “homework” and more about conversation.

• Find accountability and friendship with other women who are also on the journey of reclaiming the joy of reading.

• Build a rhythm of slowing down—away from endless scrolling—and choosing something that fills your soul.

---

---

At the end of the day, reading isn’t about checking off another “productive” box—it’s about slowing down, letting your imagination breathe, and enjoying the beauty of words. Maybe, like me, you’ll find that picking up the right book can open your heart in unexpected ways. So if you’ve been telling yourself you’re “not a reader,” maybe it’s just time to try again.