Understanding the potential hidden within the subconscious mind can be invaluable.    To truly effect worthwhile and long-term change toward achieving what matters most to you, your affirmative thoughts must reach the subconscious mind.  It is said that as much as 90 percent of ones behavior and beliefs are the result of what the subconscious mind accepts.   Author Michael J. Gelb, a recognized pioneer of creative thinking, accelerated learning, and innovative leadership, writes: Brain researchers estimate that your unconscious (subconscious) data base outweighs the conscious on an order exceeding ten million to one.  This data base is the source of your hidden, natural genius.  In other words, a part of you is much smarter than you are.  The wise people regularly consult that smarter part.   When you tap into the subconscious mind with your new behavior or change of habit, this very special place will work amazingly well for you.  While this process does require commitment and a consistent pattern of repetition of the right thoughts the benefits are enormous.  Think of it as a treasured storehouse of knowledge and wisdom which is constantly supporting you and attracting ways to help achieve your desires, even though you are not always aware of it.   It has been shown that if you earnestly practice the exercise of feeding your mind with well-chosen information for at least 20 to 30 consecutive days you will have an excellent chance of impacting the subconscious mind for positive change.  This concentrated effort on a given change of thought will reward your discipline and conditioning.    Rather than letting your environment control your life, you will be astonished at how your subconscious mind can energize and support you when you learn to consult it and nurture it with the information that serves you best.   As a result, you soon discover a significant change in the way you think, feel and act.  For some people this is a subtle process and for others it is blaring quantum leap, but either can reveal successful effects.

As adults we have great demands put upon our time. There is work, families and social activities that take out huge portions of our waking hours. It is no surprise that many adults, outside of an academic situation, find that they do not have any time to read.

Many adults would list reading as a frivolous activity in which they have no inclination due to the amount of time it takes them to get through a single book. Even students feel the pressure of time as they are faced with tons of homework and required reading. How can there be enough time to study, work and live? Some people have found the answer through speed reading.

If you are lucky enough to be gifted with this amazing talent, then it is certain other people have commented on how quickly you are able to consume reading material. If you are unfamiliar with this technique, this article is for you. It will answer some of the common questions about speed reading and hopefully set you on the path to picking up a good book to read.

How do people speed read?

There are a few different methods that some speed readers use in order to increase their reading speed. It is important to note that most speed readers use a variety of methods. Some simply skim the words and the information is simple there.

You can think of it in terms of a computer scanner. You lay the book or sheet of paper on the scanner. The image is then sent via a connection to your computer where you process the information.

How is speed reading measured?

Speed reading is measured by timing the reader as he or she reads through a selection of material. After the time is up the reader will be tested on his or her overall comprehension of the material. If they make less than 50% of the questions then that test is considered a failure.

Speed reading is difficult to test because a large part of the comprehension depends on the reader’s interest. A text book may be difficult to quickly read as there is strange terminology or a lack of interest on the participants’ behalf.

Are there any records for speed reading?

The World Championship Speed Reading competition says that its top competitors average around 1000 to 2000 words a minute. The comprehension level must be at least fifty percent in order to qualify. Though a contestant may read through the material at a rate of 5000 words a minute, if they are not able to comprehend the material or recall pertinent facts, the test is considered a failure.

Is there a way to learn how to speed read?

Not everyone can speed read. There are no tried and true methods that work for everyone. The best way to learn how to speed read is to practice and study the different methods that speed readers employ.

You may be able to learn how to skim through the material for key words and phrases. You can also try to learn how to read the material without silently pronouncing each word in your mind.

How do the software programs work?

Some software programs boast that their methodologies can double a person’s rate of reading and comprehension. Most programs utilize different methods of reading such as chunking or skimming the text. It teaches the reader how to identify key words and to skip unimportant words such as “and” in order to increase their reading speed.