Review: Psycho-Cybernetics (Updated and Expanded) by Maxwell Maltz

Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It took me some time to read this as there is a lot to process. For a book dated from 1960 it had a great deal of value to impart about how to change your thinking and outlook.

The author was a plastic surgeon and realised that when some of his patients had their looks completely transformed, they still weren't happy with themselves, while others changed completely along with their looks. He turned to his psychologist and scientists friends, and realised that much like a computer or machine, the human brain works based off the self-image we hold inside our mind. What we think and believe about ourself will dictate our perspective, and also our success in life. How we can hypnotise ourselves with our beliefs and how to undo that.

This is the kind of book that takes several reads to full grasp all that is on offer. Maltz also quotes many other insights from doctors and scientist which I found interesting.

The only downfall to this book is the continual reference to religion: Jesus, God, and Bible quotes. As someone who isn't religious or believe in the human concept of God, I found this an unnecessary interruption to a narrative that stood on its own without needing any mention of 'being God's children'. Though there were times when he disagreed with some of what is preached in religion and the bible, and what he believed Jesus meant. These additions are not excessive, but are more like occasional asides, and don't overshadow the main narrative, but if you don't like to read any such referencing, you might want to skip it.

Towards the end, I felt the content became a bit repetitive with constant references to other people's experiences, which I felt didn't really add anything to the inital text.

Overall I thought it had a lot to offer and there are parts I will definitely be accessing again - especially the first 8 chapters.

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Review: The Science of Getting Rich, by Wallace D Wattles

The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I listened to the audio version of this and have to remind myself that in 1910 when this was published, it was a whole new concept. Now of course it is everywhere in the self-help, personal development world, which has been highjacked by spirituality. And this book sees the same cross over as he uses his religious beliefs and quotes the bible continually to support what he is saying.

And what is he saying? The Law of Attraction. If you hold something in your mind you draw it to you. And the concept of setting an intention: Stay focused on what you want and work towards it, but just sort of reiterated in multiple ways. And really The Law of Attraction and The Secret were born from the 'New Thought Movement' which Wallace Wattles was part of. And it was brought back a century later by the creator of The Secret talking with Oprah Winfrey. Like and Like attract. The same people, putting out the same things, with one intention, to make money. There is now an entire industry about packaging this same concept, in both books, websites, podcasts. I could list name up on name. Oprah was one of them first to bring it to a wider audience in our current time.

I don't disbelieve the concept: if you stay focused and moving forward to what you want to achieve, of course you will achieve it. You have to take action by keeping it in the front of your mind and take physical steps towards it every day. It's quite logical. It is not specifically religous, or some special ordained action that only special people do. It's like doing the laundry. If you want to see the end of that pile of laundry, you have to take action and put a load in the machine, then dry it and then iron and fold it. Then it is done. Rinse and repeat in all aspects of your life.

In also talks about not spending too much time thinking about the past or colouring the future with thoughts of the past. And the laundry analogy works again: You can stand and look at your laundry and lament past times when you should have done it earlier, and find it a harder task that you didn't do it sooner, but if you want it done you still need to take action in the now.

It was interested to hear the dated origination of a lot of today's thinking, but there are more up-to-date books out that would be more helpful.

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Happy one year anniversary to Kill The Goblins! 🥳

It's already been a year since the release of  my first non-fiction book: Kill The Goblins! Time just flies. And to celebrate, I have put the ebook on sale for $0.99/£0.99!

I've received some wonderful reviews for this book, and I hope to get it into more hands and help a lot more people with it.

And I have two future books planned to create a kind of series: Kill The Rage, How to stop feeling angry all the time. And Kill The Fear, How to rid yourself of feeling anxious all the time. 

These books might not be for everyone, but they doesn't contain any spiritual woo or self-help jargon - in fact I write them for people that shun self-help! So if you think you might find it helpful pick up a copy.

 

Miranda K, a veteran of trauma recovery, provides in-the-moment practical strategies to combat unwanted, destructive thoughts.

Are you aware of the things you say to yourself? Are they friendly or mean? Do you have a busy head, full of lots of thoughts that leave you confused or overwhelmed? Do you find yourself arguing with the thoughts in your head, trying to get them to stop?

Kill The Goblins provides more than 15 ways to deal with those thoughts. Each one provides a simple action you can take as soon as you’ve finished reading. You can also take an in-depth look at potential root causes, and learn how to change the way you think and feel to gain inner balance and security on a daily basis.

Designed to either be read in from cover to cover, or dipped into for quite easy in-the-moment solutions, Kill The Goblins is for everyone. No spiritual woo, no self help jargon, just practical strategies for every-day use. Equip yourself with the tools to kill the stream of negative thoughts in your head that stop you from pursuing your dreams, and distract you from living the life you want.

“I found this book easy to read and informative. Miranda’s sharing of personal life and mental health experiences and revelations make it feel as if you are having coffee and chatting with a wise friend who learned her lessons in the trenches. This book is packed with practical, concrete methods to help you change your thinking, master your mind, and get to the root causes.” - Debbie Hampton, The Best Brain Possible

Interview with Victoria Pearson about Kill The Goblins

My good friend, Victoria Pearson, who has her own channel on YouTube and does mini daily gratitude shorts every morning, where you can take a breath with her, interviewed me about my new book, Kill The Goblins, How to get the negative voices in your head to shut up. She has been instrumental in me writing and publishing this book, having helped me with the content, layout and also promotion. I am eternally grateful to her for giving me a platform to speak on.

Here's the video: 

Book review: The Foot & Ankle Pain Bible & The Neck & Shoulder Pain Bible, by Chris Kidawski

The Foot & Ankle Pain Bible: A Self-Care Guide to Eliminating the Source of Your Foot Pain by Christopher J. Kidawski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wish I'd found this sooner!

I used to suffer planters fasciitis, but after 18 months of pain, I found an exercise on YouTube that I did three times a day that resolved it in two months, but since then I have developed foot tendonitis, but after reading this book - in two hours which is unheard of for me - I know what exactly is causing it - and how to resolve it. I am beyond excited.

This is not a long book, but it explains everything clearly AND there are pictures and diagrams to show you how to do the exercises the author, Chris Kidawski talks about. It is all muscular. I can't wait to get stuck in. I am simply waiting on some mobility tools to help me (massage balls).

So many people think that pain meds, immobilising the painful part of the body or icing it will help - it doesn't. They think yoga or pilates or a bit of stretching is all you need. It's not. You have to work out what your body is doing, and look further than the site of pain. I had pain in my arm and fingers when I slipped a disc in my neck and trapped a nerve. It paralysed a whole back muscle, but that was not the site of the injury it was the discs in the neck.

And Chris is right, when he says: "With our want-it-now society, very few people are willing to do what it takes to reverse their diseases and ailments in a more natural, permanent way."

Chris Kidawski has a degree in Kinseology, is a movement, and fascia expert and strength trainer. He knows how to put in all the information you need and get straight to the point. Most helpful book I've read in ages. I have just bought his book on shoulder and neck pain!



View all my reviews The Head, Neck & Shoulder Pain Bible: A Self-Care Guide To Eliminating Upper Body Pain by Christopher J. Kidawski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another excellent book from Christopher Kidawski.

It's full of clear instructions and explanations. As someone who slipped two discs in my neck, due to muscle tension this is definitely something for me, and I'm already using it. It does involve buying the recommended tools, and also confidence to try this out yourself. Although I did email Chris for help and he responded immediately with guidance videos.

I also have had a lot of physio help for more than a decade and used many exercises, so am confident I won't damage myself because I know what pain is damage pain, and which is releasing muscle - I've had physios release muscles before, it's initially sore, but in the long term really helpful.

There are pictures of how to go about treating yourself, and diagrams of the muscles structures.

I would definitely recommend.

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Happy Publication Day to Kill The Goblins! 🥳

Todays sees the release of my first foray into non-fiction.

Happy Publication day to my new book is called Kill The Goblins! How to get the negative voices in your head to shut up.

It provides in-the-moment strategies to quiet a noisy mind.

It is available across all platforms in ebook and paperback format.

"Tools to quiet a noisy mind

Miranda K, a veteran of trauma recovery, is here to provide in-the-moment strategies for day-to-day living.

Equip yourself with tools to kill the stream of negative thoughts in your head that stop you from pursuing your dreams, and distracts you from living the life you want.

Take an in-depth look at potential root causes, and learn how to change the way you think and feel to gain inner balance and security every day.

Free of self-help and personal development jargon, Kill The Goblins looks at what it takes to quiet the mind and recover yourself on a daily basis." 

Review: What Are You Hungry For? by Deepak Chopra

What Are You Hungry For?: The Chopra Solution to Permanent Weight Loss, Well-Being and Lightness of Soul by Dr Deepak Chopra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first Deepak Chopra book. I've read articles and interviews and listened to him in various places, but up until now I hadn't really considered a book of his until I read the title of this.

I've been trying to lose weight for a while, and suspect my inability to do so isn't so much about the food, or diets, but about myself. So with that in mind I picked it up and I was not disappointed. It combined many ideas and themes that I already know and understand with some conclusions which were new and I hadn't considered before. There are a few journaling exercises in here and a lot to think about and process, plus a meditation routine and some recipes.

What I like is that Deepak Chopra comes from both sides of the medical science, both Eastern and Western, having been a doctor in both and combines the ideas from both in ways that make it much easier to understand what would help you. He uses plenty of evidence based off his own practice and stories from patients to explain and provide examples for what he is talking about, which is very much crossing the spiritual self with the physical self.

It's about being conscious and aware of yourself and your life and how to consider your entire wellness inside and out. He explains it all very clearly without using any complicated terms or jargon from the spiritual or personal development realm.

I would definitely recommend it if you are wondering why you can't lose weight.



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