Reflections: Redesign Your Mind: The Breakthrough Program for Real Cognitive Change by Eric Maisel, PhD

 

For years, I’ve been smothered with internal negative self-talk derived from external influences such as conflicts, tragedies, and other traumatic experiences. The suffocation of the negative self-talk enabled me to live a life full of anger and insecurity. I know I am not alone in this debilitating conversation. All of us have some negative self-talk that inhibits the true person we are meant to be— confident and active individuals. The trick is how to rid ourselves of it so that we can breathe.

When I started reading Redesign Your Mind, I loved the metaphor of the mind being a “room” that needs to be redesigned. The idea of restructuring the mind with a different way of thinking as one reconstructs/rearranges a room with various items to make it fresh and functional was easy to understand. Throughout the book, Dr. Maisel acted as an Interior Design professor to teach us how to redesign our “room “(mind) with different writing prompts in each chapter. Each chapter presented a new item to either add or replace an old item that needed to be removed because of the negative vibe it inhabits. One of my favorite writing prompts is in Chapter 4. Dr. Maisel suggests that one should install a safety valve to relieve pressure (anxiety) as well as eliminate negative self-talk from one’s life.

Here is my reflection on the writing prompt that asks to play with the words pressure, safety valve, and pressure release valve.

(This diagram demonstrates what I need to do to relieve pressure(anxiety) and how to find peace. The calmness switch was an addition from Chapter 5)

By actively engaging in these prompts, you will gain more insight into how your mind works and your power to change your perspective. The prompts move you forward in a positive direction so you can feel the inhalation and exhalation of your healing breath with ease and purpose.

Redesign Your Mind: The Breakthrough Program for Real Cognitive Change is a program (not just a book) that should be a daily part of your life. It is food for your mind, body, and soul.