This book and its learnings really increased my curiosity about psychology and started me on the path of learning more. It fascinated me:
About the power of our subconscious mind.
How our self-image impacts how we show up.
That my beliefs could be re-programmed.
This science of cybernetics–that as human beings we are goal oriented. I could see why I enjoyed setting clear goals and taking action towards them. It is inbuilt in us.
I love the idea that whatever goal we have in mind, our brain and nervous system will guide us there automatically. Maxwell Maltz said we have this success instinct within all of us, humans, animals, etc. We have a latent drive within us that KNOWS what’s best for us. You can tell when either yourself or others do not have clear goals, sometimes that can impact their wellbeing.
Maxwell studied the science of “cybernetics”—which explains how things like guided missiles or “servo-mechanisms” hit their targets through a clear goal and constant adjustment of their course. “Cybernetics”, comes from a Greek word that means “the steersman”.
Imagine a guided a missile. It knows its target. It knows whether it’s on track to hit that target or not. If it is not on target, it readjusts its trajectory to get back on target until it hits its target.
A squirrel does not have to be taught how to gather nuts. Nor does it need to learn that it should store them for winter. A squirrel born in the spring has never experienced winter. Yet in that time of the year we can observe it storing nuts to be eaten during the winter months when there will be no food to be gathered.
“Creative striving for a goal that is important to you as a result of your own deep felt needs, aspirations and talents (and not the symbols which the ‘Joneses’ expect you to display) brings happiness as well as success because you will be functioning as you were meant to function. Man is by nature a goal-striving being. And because man is ‘built that way’ he is not happy unless he is functioning the way he was made to function—as a goal-striver. Thus true success and true happiness not only go together but each enhances the other.” Maxwell Maltz from Psycho-Cybernetics
You have this desire for success within you, waiting to be unleashed, so what can you do to ensure that all your potential is realised? Have a clear target, take action and let Pscycho-Cybernetics help you out.
Interestingly, I found this book when one of my goals in goals club was to read 12 books in the year. I remember finding it difficult to read, so I came across audible, an App where you can listen to books while driving, walking, cleaning, etc. It made it really assessable to stay on track with my goal. That was psycho-cybernetics helping me get back on track!
A lot of great concepts and lessons come from the book Pscycho-Cybernetics and I totally recommend it.
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