Written by: Dr. Joe Dispenza
Review by: Glain Roberts-McCabe
The Premise:Have you ever felt doomed by your genes to be hardwired a certain way for the rest of your life? Well, not so says Dr. Joe Dispenza in this dive into neuroscience, quantum physics, brain chemistry, biology and genetics. Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to lose your mind and create a new one, is a fascinating read that challenges assumptions many of us hold about our ability to change who we are and how we think. As research is showing, our brains are much more adaptable than we may realize. Dispenza’s book is broken into three key parts: The Science of You, Your Brain and Meditation; and Stepping Toward Your New Destiny. Despite the lofty titles, the book is easy to read and provides some fascinating examples of people who have put the theory into action. The third part of the book is a week-by-week guide on how to begin the process of rewiring your brain. Meditation practices combine with reflective exercises to help you begin the journey. The appendix also includes some guided meditations that you can follow (or download from the author’s website).
The Bottom-line: For the past two years, I’ve been exploring bringing more mindfulness into my work and life. Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself was recommended to me by one of our members when I was talking to her about the “old tapes” that I find we get trapped in. We tend to wear labels that are given to us throughout our lives and, recently, in the work I do, I’ve noticed just how much that can limit potential. What I enjoyed about Dispenza’s book was the fact that he was able to ground his thinking in facts and explain fields like neuroscience and quantum physics in a way that was both relevant and easy to understand. This isn’t a “light” book and the techniques he outlines in part three sound simple but aren’t easy. This is the kind of book you need to read a few times to absorb the messages and the type of practice that is ongoing. You won’t rewire your brain in a “Manhattan Minute” as one popular mindfulness book claims, but, if you’re interested in pushing your self-insight and self-development to another level, check it out. Even if you don’t reach a personal nirvana, you’ll probably be the better for the practice, regardless.
Roundtable Rating: Highly recommended for leaders interested in changing their internal dialog and garnering more self insight.
