Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz
This is one my favorite books. Thank you, Jack Butcher for the recommendation.
Preface
A behaviorist said that thought is merely the movement of electrons and consciousness merely a chemical action. But cybernetics which began the study of physical machines makes no such mistakes. The science of cybernetics does not tell us that man is a machine but that man has and uses a machine.
1: The Self-Image: Your Key to a Better Life
You will act like the sort of person you conceive yourself to be.
2: Discovering the Success Mechanism Within You
When we set out to find a new idea or the answer to a problem, we must assume that the answer exists already somewhere and set out to find it.
3: Imagination: The First Key to Your Success Mechanism
Before a person can change, she must see herself in a new role.
4: Dehypnotize Yourself from False Beliefs
Inner security can only be found “in finding in oneself an individuality, uniqueness, and distinctiveness that is akin to the idea of being created in the image of God.”
5: How to Utilize The Power of Rational Thinking
Ignore past failures and forge ahead. Act as if.
6: Relax and Let Your Success Mechanism Work for You
I have discovered that much anxiety is caused by mentally trying to escape or run away from something that you have decided to go through with physically. If the decision is made to go through with it - not to run away physically - why mentally keep considering or hoping for escape?
7: You Can Acquire the Habit of Happiness
I have discovered that much anxiety is caused by mentally trying to escape or run away from something that you have decided to go through with physically. If the decision is made to go through with it - not to run away physically - why mentally keep considering or hoping for escape?
8: Ingredients of the “Success-Type” Personality and How to Acquire Them
Creating a better self-image does not create new abilities, talents, powers - it releases and utilizes them. Personality is a tool of the “self” that we use in dealing with the world.
9: The Failure Mechanism: How to Make it Work For You Instead of Against You
Emptiness is a symptom that you are not living creatively.
10: How to Remove Emotional Scars
Assume responsibility for your own life and emotional needs. Try giving affection, love, approval, acceptance, understanding to other people, and you will find them coming back to you as a sort of reflex action.
11: How to Unlock Your Real Personality
When we say that a person has “good personality” what we mean is that he has freed and released the creative potential within him and is able to express his real self.
12: Do-it-Yourself Tranquilizers That Bring Peace of Mind
Live emotionally in the present. You have a built in thermostat that enables you to maintain an emotional climate and atmosphere in spite of the emotional weather control around you.
13: How to Turn a Crisis Into a Creative Opportunity
The secret lies in the attitude of fearlessly accepting the challenge and confidently expanding our strength. It means maintaining “no matter what happens, I can handle it” instead of: I hope nothing happens.
14: How To Get That Winning Feeling
Reactive success patterns and “that winning feeling,” which help you do better in the present and promise a more enjoyable future. Change your mental imagery and the feelings will take care of themselves.
15: More Years of Life and More Life in Your Years
Our assumption of a future goal, which sometimes we cannot see is what dictates our present action and our “practical conduct.”
My detailed notes on the book can be accessed here.