[One Thousand Characters a Day] Chairman Yoon Dong-han's 'Steady Progress, Long Journey Together' <5>

Editor's NoteYoon Dong-han, Chairman of Korea Kolmar, cites the advantages of reading as ▲the effect of immersion ▲the power of vocabulary ▲depth of thought and intellectual connection ▲the habit of doing things in order. He explains that while focusing on reading, one can experience an optimal state of happiness by pushing away distractions and unnecessary emotions, that using appropriate vocabulary makes human relationships easier, that creativity and insight arise, and that one can develop the ability to read the flow. Chairman Yoon emphasized, "Make it a habit to read even for 30 minutes a day to sharpen your thinking," adding, "If you accumulate these 30 minutes for just three years, your inner strength will become quite solid." Word count: 1127 characters.

The second effect of reading comes from the power of vocabulary. When something that used to take two lines to explain can be conveyed with just one word, I feel an inexplicable thrill. I also feel this way when I witness a sentence becoming more concise by using vocabulary appropriately. Vocabulary does not only exert power within sentences; it also has a positive influence on human relationships.

Philosopher Nietzsche said that only those who verbalize their thoughts can have opinions. This means that those who only think without verbalizing should neither have nor express opinions.

When you read books, verbalization happens naturally, and this becomes evident when you talk with someone. When we see someone speaking with refinement, we smile and feel a desire to get closer because that person naturally makes others feel comfortable, even without intending to.

People who have verbalization ingrained in them do not load unnecessary emotions onto the vocabulary or sentences they use. The very act of verbalizing is a process that makes one reflect on oneself and refine their expression.

On the other hand, some people cannot hold back their emotions in the moment and explode, only to reflect shortly afterward. Some pour out their anger fully and then ask for reconciliation. You might say, "At least they reflect, so that's something," but if such behavior repeats, there is definitely a problem. In any case, people who flare up like fire usually do so not because the issue was that serious, but because they are inexperienced in expressing and regulating their emotions.

A typical case is saying "I feel betrayed" when "I feel hurt" would suffice, or saying "Who do you think you are?" when "I wish you would keep your promises" would be enough. If you are angry by just '1 decibel,' you should express only that level of emotion. Then the other person will sincerely apologize, feeling sorry for not being considerate. But if a greater anger than the mistake you made comes back, your desire to apologize will disappear.

Even just using language that matches the level of emotion makes relationships more comfortable. If you ignore this level and just throw out your emotions first, good people will no longer come near you. Even if they do, they won't stay long or the relationship will remain superficial. For healthy human relationships, it is good to continue 'verbalization training' to express emotions. Reading will help with that.

- Yoon Dong-han, ＜Ubo Cheonri Donghaeng Malli＞, Guardian, 18,000 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.