Amazon Category:  Self-Help Publisher: Meli Inc. ISBN-10:  0982046200 Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 552 Copyright: March 2010 ISBN-13: 9780982046203 This book explains very lucidly how patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behavior are created and how we develop habits and mental programs over a period of time. The techniques described in this book help one to disentangle and re-define life-situations; and to clarify feelings and thoughts to his/her own advantage. It provides new resources to move forward proactively and positively. Through this latest book, Prof. Erantha De Mel shows how to practice positive emotional states on a daily basis in a realistic and a practical way.

Book Review -
Prof. Erantha De Mel in his latest book "Optimizing the Infinite Mind" offers a cogent expose of the human mind processes. It explains how to reprogram the thought patterns and thinking styles to obtain the desired results in life; and also it offers a technology for creating change. The book explains very lucidly how patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behavior are created and how we develop habits and mental programs over a period of time. Habits are not formed overnight. When we do the same thing over and over again - over a period of time, we form a habit. Our thoughts are also habits. All of us have the capacity to consider ways to re-program our minds and create new neurological pathways to achieve success.

Prof. Erantha De Mel is the founder of the Neural Optimization Technique. He is an internationally acclaimed Cognitive Neuroscientist and was the recipient of the Cambridge Blue Book Man of the Year award 2005 for his contribution to the field of Neuroscience and Cybernetics. As a practicing psychologist and researcher, in both psychology and parapsychology; he is engaged in extensive research in both fields and is a scholar with original research into Altered States of Consciousness and Psycho-Cybernetics. The Neural Optimization Technique (NeuralOpTech) provides multiple applications for business modeling, counseling, psychology, management development, sports performance, and many more. This technique also provides a way out of old habits, fears, limiting beliefs, and gives a structure for new and empowering ways of being in the world. Some people simply breathe the air; others savor the fragrance and tang in each and every breath they take. Some people look out at a landscape and see cliffs, valleys, fields and streams; others see minute details of life, climate, and splendor. "There are no facts in life. We have only perceptions" - Prof. De Mel says in his book. What we perceive is a fact for us.

Very effectively he addresses issues such as self-sabotage (sabotaging one's own success), refining self-perception (what you believe about yourself), and receiving what you expect from your life (manifestation of intent). The techniques described in this book help one to disentangle and re-define life-situations; and to clarify feelings and thoughts to his or her own advantage. It provides new resources to move forward proactively and positively. He shows how to practice positive emotional states on a daily basis, and how to manifest one's expectations in life. "If one practices feeling 'happy' everyday in his life, it is easier to feel happy" he says; because that person is practicing it, affirming it, and creating it. That's why it is so important to choose happiness as the predominant state of mind. On the contrary, if one is feeling depressed and low, and if that person keeps practicing going back to that depression - invariably, it will create depression in him.

The book describes how to examine the validity of your thought processes that is important in altering your thoughts. "In finding the validity of your thoughts, you need to defend and produce evidence that the bases for your thoughts are true. If you are unable to meet this challenge, the faulty nature of your thoughts is exposed. Your thoughts are also habits. When you think in the same way over-and-over again - over a period of time, such thought processes become habits. In other words, they become "automatic" thought processes. When engaged in irrational thinking, instead of reacting to the reality of a situation, an individual tends to react to his or her own distorted viewpoint of the situation. For instance, a person may conclude that he is "worthless" simply because he failed an exam or a job interview. It is important to identify such distorted thinking patterns, or cognitive distortions, and change or restructure them in a realistic manner."

This book is written with minimum technical terminology, having the average reader in mind. The information that is provided is excellent and invaluable in personality development and attitudinal change. It is a "must read" book!

BOOK FACTS:
Title: Optimizing the Infinite Mind
Author: Erantha De Mel
Publisher: Meli Inc. USA
Paperback: 552 pages
ISBN-10: 0982046200
ISBN-13: 978-0982046203
Reader Rating: +++++

Reviewed by Dr. Jeanne Oswald

Book Review - Optimizing the Infinite Mind By Dr. Jonathan McComic
Title: Optimizing the Infinite Mind
Author: Prof. Erantha De Mel
Publisher: Meli Inc. USA
Paperback: 552 pages
ISBN-10: 0982046200
ISBN-13: 978-0982046203
Reader Rating: +++++

Soon after its launch on the 10th of April 2010 in Los Angeles, I had the opportunity of reading this utterly inspiring book by Prof. Erantha De Mel - "Optimizing the Infinite Mind". This book very lucidly describes how you can literally let go of your dysfunctional thoughts, emotions, beliefs and habits; and the ways of reprogramming your mind utilizing the Neural Optimization Technique. Neural Optimization explores the relationship between how we think, and how we optimize our patterns of behavior and emotional routines. It offers an opportunity to alter or re-engineer the way we function (our in-built neural programs), and it also offers a technology for creating change. Neural Optimization Technique is a multi-dimensional process that involves the enhancement of behavioral competence and flexibility as well as the strategic thinking, and understanding of the mental and cognitive processes behind behavior. It provides skills for the development of states of mind facilitating individual excellence, and establishes a system of empowering beliefs and presumptions about what human beings are, what mind-power is, and what the process of change is all about.

Prof. Erantha De Mel is the founder of the Neural Optimization Technique. He is an internationally acclaimed Cognitive Neuroscientist and was the recipient of the Cambridge Blue Book Man of the Year award 2005 for his contribution to the field of Neuroscience and Cybernetics. As a practicing psychologist and researcher, in both psychology and parapsychology; he is engaged in extensive research in both fields and is a scholar with original research into Altered States of Consciousness and Psycho-Cybernetics.

"Optimizing the Infinite Mind" is for all who wish to expand and realize their potential. There are thousands of self-help books, inspirational books, and transformational books written on how to improve yourself and become efficient and effective. Generally these books tell us the ways we can change our lives taking successful people as examples. But very rarely do they tell us how, and the internal mechanisms involved in the process. Most of them are very vague, and provide anecdotal accounts, creating a "like others do we also like to do" mentality. In other words, far too many self-improvement books look to other external and internal factors while ignoring the two most important elements - the mind and the brain. This new book provides the reader with techniques to change and enrich the internal mind processes in order to improve personality, character, and attitude through his/her own efforts and positive mind programming; thereby creating a lasting change in them. It is a remarkable self-improvement book with a difference.

The book is written with minimum technical jargon, targeting the general reader. It comprises of three sections - namely, the Infinite Mind, Neural Optimization Technique, and the Optimization Guide. In the section "Infinite Mind" the author describes the nature and the potential of mind processes. Also he provides some knowledge of basic psychology to the reader in order to understand the mind processes. The second section is an introduction to the Neural Optimization Technique. It provides the reader with the tools of mind programming. The section three is an optimization guide addressing issues such as 'Combating Negative Thought Patterns', 'Re-Structuring of Thought Processes', 'Refining Your Self-Perception', 'Consciousness and Personal Growth', 'Attitudinal Change', 'Consciousness and Success' to name a few.

Self-improvement begins with self-understanding, knowing your true potential and of being aware that you are unique. Improvement can be measured in many ways, in a variety of contexts. What really does matter is how the individual sees his or her "self", and what they would perceive as improvement to that "self". The book provides very important guidelines in self-improvement and the ways of combating self-crippling beliefs.

"If you try to understand the mind processes and resolve to change your mind, you can change your life" Prof. De Mel says. "What you perceive and believe create the actual circumstances in life. By changing your inner attitudes of mind, you can change the outer aspects of your life. You may be thinking that success is for a chosen few and you are not one of them. If this is your thinking, start now to eradicate that belief from your mind". In pursuit of an objective, a goal, or even a dream, whether business or personal, it is possible to increase the likelihood of success by continuously exercising your mind with positive thinking, self-help, and personal growth. In this new book the author further goes on to say "Life is an exotic buffet with lots of choices. But the tragedy is that most people are starving to death. We are surrounded with joy, with prosperity, with love. Unfortunately, most of them have no idea of this whatsoever, because they are programmed to think that such things are beyond their reach. They tend to think that they've got a raw deal in life. They are programmed with many self-limiting beliefs. It is very sad that they dwell in self-created imaginary prisons and lack a key to access peacefulness and abundance. We posses an amazing mechanism of power within every one of us that needs to be activated. We can either look forward to a hopeless end, or to have endless hope. It's a matter of how we look at life."

One of the most significant strategies that Prof. De Mel offers is the concept of reprogramming of mind processes. When applied properly and consistently the techniques described in this book can transform your whole life. Most of us suffer from low self esteem and a lack self confidence from time to time. Eventually we believe that self-improvement is impossible to achieve. These thoughts have been shaped by past failures and negative experiences. Hopefully we can reach a point in our life when we are ready for change and are ready to accept information that will help us unlock our self improvement power. This book offers simple and effective techniques to be more focused and productive in every aspect of your life.

By the way, if you have read many inspirational books, you might want to ask yourself why I should read this book. My humble opinion is that you only need to read a few good self-help books and this is one of them. I recommend you to read this book and change your life!

Dr. Jonathan McComic MD, PhD - Consultant Neurologist

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