How do I begin reviewing this masterpiece.? It was a roller-coaster journey into my own mind. I must say, to write so wonderfully, practically and device subtle steps to rewire our mind, the author must be no less than an enlightened. Though I think the examples given for the emotional algorithms could have been less gross and more subtle, I appreciate the systematic, organised and simple but effective approach of encouraging the readers towards designing our minds.
The basic drill to relate to is to look at our mind as a software program.
Beginning with the idea of identifying fault in our systems and intervening to fix it, neuroplasticity of our brains, cognitive biases we fall prey to and de-biasing them, self-introspection and up to the hierarchy of our goals, regulating emotional algorithms, mediating and restructuring them, identifying the faulty algorithms, managing our desires, and finally achieving self-mastery. I can see how the author has put up a perfect cocktail, if I can call it that, with a personal touch.
Ryan says that the inability to control one’s emotions is considered normal and hence the belief- "emotions cannot be controlled". He also says that some of the biases that we inevitably fall prey to, are bound to manifest in one’s emotional life in the form of Negative Automatic Thoughts which then in turn become our Habitual Interpretation- the cognitive catalyst for our emotional reactions.
In simple terms, judgements or conclusions or pre-conceived notions which are readily available in our conscious mind without having to put any effort to give-a-thought-on any given stimulus.
But on the flip-side, we are given the gift of RE-INTERPRETATION after an experience of negative emotion. Which according to the author is an opportunity where we can rewire our faulty algorithms.
To quote him, “We choose irrational interpretations and we do it because it feels good” for example victimhood, where he also gives a fair warning, “You teach yourself what is important to you through your behaviours, so behave wisely”.
It reminds me of eastern spirituality when he talks about managing desires so as to make them work towards our goal and says, “You can learn to desire for the present to be exactly as it is while desiring for the future to be different”. And of enlightenment when he talks about Equanimity, to quote, “A state of undisturbed tranquillity and psychological stability”.
And so, I call this a perfect cocktail, fused with teachings of both western life coaches and eastern Gurus and with a personal touch of showing us the Big-Picture in an organised frame, also not to forget, the know-how of rewiring our mind.
“You can only be as happy as your mind is programmed to be” but the good news is You are the architect!
The book gets 5/5.
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