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The Mind-Made Prison: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs and Manifesting Personal Transformation
The Mind-Made Prison takes you on a breathtaking journey through your psyche and shows you the exact things that are currently causing you pain and how you can remove these elements from your life. It is a MUST read for anyone looking to drastically improve the quality of their life by making some simple, yet very powerful changes. Using the authors proven techniques of personal liberation, you can literally learn to design your life in any way you want. You will learn how to overcome any negative emotion and more importantly you will understand how your unique operating system functions. The mind-made prison is one that we are all caught in either knowingly or unknowingly and this comprehending guide explains how you can finally escape the iron grip of this prison. This Book Will change your life and the simple steps needed don't take more than a couple of minutes each day. About the Author At just the age of 23, Mateo is a Global Management Engineer, an entrepreneur who has started several successful companies and a Best Selling Author. He has over 6 years of experience as a Seminar Speaker and Coach and has spent the last 4 years travelling the world and honing his skills by meeting masters in different fields of self-improvement all over the world.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2012
200 people are currently reading
815 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 30, 2013
This was a life changing book for me. I've read a lot of personal growth/spiritual development books but never had one that explained so clearly HOW I am creating my life. I read Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now and it helped me become aware in the present moment. Now that I understand that the meaning that I am choosing to give to everything is defining my life I feel like I have a tool to start using with my awareness. I can feel my life changing for the better every day. I highly recommend this book.
June 18, 2013
I picked up this book after seeing all the glowing reviews it had gotten on Amazon, plus I thought it came at an affordable price. I was very pleasantly surprised by it and it really was a thought provoking read for me. I liked the authors writing style which was very direct and emphatic.
I learned a ton about myself reading this book and there are many really interesting and useful exercises inside (I must admit that I usually never do exercises in self help books and even though I skipped a few in this one too, I generally found them extremely useful). I will have to read this book one more time as it is just full of those golden nuggets that can completely change your life once you really integrate them. Definitely recommended!
I learned a ton about myself reading this book and there are many really interesting and useful exercises inside (I must admit that I usually never do exercises in self help books and even though I skipped a few in this one too, I generally found them extremely useful). I will have to read this book one more time as it is just full of those golden nuggets that can completely change your life once you really integrate them. Definitely recommended!
May 1, 2020
In Brooke Castillo's podcasts (which I've recently begun to listen to) she mentions this book and quotes from it, so I purchased it from Amazon for my Kindle.
It's short and easy-to-read. The concepts are simple and direct. The main idea is that we may have self-limiting or faulty beliefs that decrease our quality of life. Once we analyze our beliefs, we can question them and if necessary choose new ones. How we look at a situation can greatly impact our attitudes and actions. It's very similar to Castillo's "Thoughts lead to feelings, lead to actions, lead to results" model.
The author gives a method of adapting new beliefs by using daily affirmations that lead to finding evidence for those new beliefs to back them up. Our faulty beliefs can cause us to make justifications for behaviors that don't serve us well. If our beliefs don't make sense, or are based on other beliefs that don't make sense, we can do something to change them. He says that typically, if you change one wrong belief it can help rid many other beliefs that are linked.
Because of some of his statements at the beginning of the book, I began reading with heavy skepticism. He says things like, "Everyone is right. Nothing is absolutely true. It's all relative." It is true that we all see the world differently, and that many things are relative, but I do believe there are some absolute truths. I'm glad I didn't let his statements stop me from reading because there's a lot of helpful truth here. None of his ideas are really new to me, but the way he puts them and some of his examples are useful.
It's short and easy-to-read. The concepts are simple and direct. The main idea is that we may have self-limiting or faulty beliefs that decrease our quality of life. Once we analyze our beliefs, we can question them and if necessary choose new ones. How we look at a situation can greatly impact our attitudes and actions. It's very similar to Castillo's "Thoughts lead to feelings, lead to actions, lead to results" model.
The author gives a method of adapting new beliefs by using daily affirmations that lead to finding evidence for those new beliefs to back them up. Our faulty beliefs can cause us to make justifications for behaviors that don't serve us well. If our beliefs don't make sense, or are based on other beliefs that don't make sense, we can do something to change them. He says that typically, if you change one wrong belief it can help rid many other beliefs that are linked.
Because of some of his statements at the beginning of the book, I began reading with heavy skepticism. He says things like, "Everyone is right. Nothing is absolutely true. It's all relative." It is true that we all see the world differently, and that many things are relative, but I do believe there are some absolute truths. I'm glad I didn't let his statements stop me from reading because there's a lot of helpful truth here. None of his ideas are really new to me, but the way he puts them and some of his examples are useful.
October 1, 2013
This is a superb book that is kinda so obvious. It is without doubt 'life changing'. It is not the first time I have encountered these ideas but it is written so simply, so plain to understand and so easy to achieve. Everyday I hear people limit their opportunities in life by putting barriers in the way if their own true happiness. Everyone should read this book. It should be compulsory reading in school. I just wish I had read books like this forty years ago. My life would have been so different and so much better. However I have been practicing the ideas in this book now for a while and it has made my life so much richer.
September 13, 2021
Good stuff
Best book I've read in a while. Too 5 all time. I e read probably over 300 in this genre
Best book I've read in a while. Too 5 all time. I e read probably over 300 in this genre
July 18, 2022
Brooke Castillo told us about this book in her podcast, The Life Coach School. The concepts sounded transformative, so I asked the library to purchase this book. It took me several hours to do the transformative exercises and the Life Quiz, but I think it was worthwhile to get clear about my beliefs in various areas of my life and to see where I have limiting beliefs.
The question of "Are my beliefs in this area improving the quality of my life?" is important to see if you might have limiting beliefs. And he asks you what some new, empowering beliefs might be about that area of life to really improve the quality of your life. I appreciate Mateo's perspective and the concepts he shares about looking at your own life and where you might be holding yourself back. We are responsible for the results we're getting in our lives. If we want different results, we're responsible for creating them, and that starts with our thoughts and beliefs.
“The only way you can find what you are looking for is to stop knowing so much.” pg. 10
“You have so much talent and potential inside you that is not coming through because your mind has imprisoned you.” pg. 11
“Become aware of the associations you currently have to the Unknown. After you have found them, I want you to take a look at what other meanings you could use that would make it easier for you to move into the Unknown and seize the opportunity to grow.” pg. 19
“Here is a list of some meanings you could add to your definition of the Unknown … : Success, growth, determination, spirit of the champion, warrior mentality, elite performance, happiness, exhilaration, acceptance, vitality, power, movement, velocity, invincibility, greatness, accomplishment, victory, evolution, fortitude, vigor, tenacity, ecstasy, delight, flexibility, flow.” pg. 19
“If we couldn’t rely on our beliefs as a means of operating in daily life, we would never evolve or grow, because we would constantly have to learn the same thing over and over again. But how are we going to become the master of our experience if our beliefs are always going to be in control? We are going to do so by choosing the beliefs we want to operate with.” pg. 31
“I am going to repeat this point again: There is no right or wrong belief. The only thing that matters is whether or not a belief is improving the quality of your life or not. You need to be brutally honest when you look at your beliefs and see whether they are giving you positive and joyous emotions in the long run.” pg. 35
“I want you to really get that your current results mean nothing with regard to who you are or who you can be. Your current results in life are merely an indication of what sort of beliefs you have entertained up to this point.” pg. 53
“Because your beliefs are responsible for external results, the lack of results in a given area of life is a very good indication that you have limiting beliefs in that area. Therefore, I want you to make a list of the areas of your life that are important to you but simply aren’t meeting your expectations. Doing this will create some awareness and help you find some of the limiting beliefs that are holding you back.” pg. 54
“So many people are searching for their talents and God-given gifts; meanwhile they are missing the biggest and most obvious one. They are missing the fact that they are the creator of their own destiny, in the sense that they are literally designing their experience of life through the meanings they create.” pg. 61
“I am simply encouraging you to take two steps: Stop using the meanings you create to demoralize yourself, and start using the meanings you create to empower yourself!” pg. 63
“Suppressing your emotions can haunt you later in life in the form of disease, and it is definitely not something I will recommend you do. The problem is not the emotion; the problem is the context in which you use the emotion.” pg. 63
“The reason why these emotions are causing people so much suffering is because they are not content with just feeling the emotion. They also have to create a negative story around it, start identifying with it, and carry it around with them as if it was an emblem of achievement. People tend to make emotions a part of their identity, instead of just seeing them as energy that is passing through their body.” pg. 64
“When I changed my rules in the area of wealth, it also became a lot easier for me to acquire additional wealth. Since I was already wealthy, I was behaving and feeling like someone who is wealthy.
Do you think it is easier to acquire wealth when you already know you are wealthy?
Most importantly, I gave myself the gratitude I deserved right NOW instead of delaying the positive emotions I could feel because I didn’t live up to some imaginary rule I had created in my mind.” pg. 75
“When you are fully present with whatever it is you are doing, something interesting happens. When you are present, you are literally going to see your limiting beliefs as they come out of nowhere and try to take control of your behavior.
The more awareness you bring to the present moment, the more you will realize there are all sorts of negative beliefs running in the background. These are the programs you don’t usually notice because you are either in the past or the future.” pg. 93
“Being aware of the present moment simply means you never believe the illusion that the future is going to be better than what is going on right now.” pg. 96
“Plan, dream, and organize all you want; just don’t start believing that what you have planned for the future is going to be any better than your current moment. You are going to be in the present moment your entire life. If you are focusing on how good the future (that really doesn’t exist) is going to be, you are just running on the hamster wheel hoping to get somewhere.
Life is right now, in this glorious moment right in front of you. I believe that if you are not allowing yourself to be happy right NOW, nothing external in the future is going to change that permanently.” pg. 97
“As I have mentioned earlier, the problem is never the emotion itself, but the context in which the emotion and beliefs are being utilized. If you don’t fully accept that a certain emotion or thought is there, you are going to resist it. When you resist it, you are going to judge, blame, or feel guilty.
This means that in your effort to get rid of the emotion of jealousy, you add another layer, shame over the fact that you are jealous. It means that in your effort to get rid of the thought of worthlessness, you add a layer of blame.” pg. 99
“In the beginning it can feel challenging to maintain awareness of the present moment. Like everything else in life, however, it is only a challenge until it becomes easy.” pg. 103
“Some good questions to use when doing self-inquiry:
- Why do I believe this?
- Do I know with absolute certainty that this is true?
- How do I know this?
- Do I have permission to change this belief?
- Is this belief enhancing or decreasing the quality of my life?
- Why do I feel this way?
- What secondary benefits am I getting from believing this?” pg. 106
“Exploring, Not Fixing
This process is not about fixing anything. It is simply about exploring the beliefs of your mind and seeing how your inner world is operating. If you happen to find beliefs and meanings that are not improving the quality of your life, by all means go ahead and change them.
You shouldn’t have the expectation of finding something to fix. Your mind is perfect just as it is and doesn’t need fixing; sometimes it is just fun to have a nice tune-up of some of the old beliefs that are no longer serving you.” pg. 112-113
“‘Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world.’ — Arthur Schopenhauer” pg. 113
“Most people think it is hard to find evidence for a given belief, but they soon realize the power of the reticular activating system when they actually go out and try. Doing this is very powerful, and once you get the hang of it, you will be amazed at the amount of evidence you can effortlessly find for any new belief.” pg. 121
“Affirmations are done in two forms:
- I believe that (insert the belief you have chosen).
- From this day forward I will (insert the belief you have chosen).
You should do your affirmations on a daily basis until you start acting on the specific beliefs in your everyday life without thinking about it. Step two is when you find evidence for why your new beliefs are true.” pg. 125-126
“By bringing awareness into your life, you will start having a completely different experience of life. The simplest things can become the greatest joys, and each moment is another chance to get a glimpse into the truly incredible experience we have been blessed with.
You will start to see your illusions for what they are, and one by one, your limiting beliefs will lose a lot of their power. Once you use the power of awareness to see these previously hidden agents of control, you will start to question them, and this questioning will eventually set you free.” pg. 126
“I completely appreciate that you might not be ready to let go of some of your limiting beliefs yet, and I am not asking you to do so. There is no right or wrong in life, and therefore I would never ask you to change anything. You are absolutely perfect just as you are.
I am simply asking you to bring awareness to your experience so you yourself can start choosing the beliefs that are running your life. I am simply asking you to experience life more on your own terms.” pg. 126-127
“Blame has one function and one function only: to deny responsibility of your present moment because it is too painful to realize you are in fact responsible for the hurt you are feeling.” pg. 130
“Here are some good questions to ask yourself:
- What am I constantly judging about others?
- What are some things that I absolutely can’t stand in others?
- What things do I view as weakness in others?
- Is it possible that I have some of these same traits or perceived weaknesses and I just don’t want to recognize them?
- Is it possible that I can’t stand something about others because it is a reminder of some of my own unmet needs?” pg. 133-134
“Just because you are providing for yourself, have a place to live and a job, doesn’t mean you are taking full responsibility for your life. Taking full responsibility for your life means that you stop blaming external situations and events and step up to the plate as the ultimate creator of your life experience.” pg. 135
“Take responsibility and realize that you are in the situation you are in because of you. You don’t suddenly have debt, become overweight, or wake up to an unhappy relationship. These are all things that happen over time as a result of not taking responsibility for the things that needed to be done.” pg. 136
“Our mind has literally become programmed to laziness and wanting immediate results. For the same reason, taking consistent action and just having faith that you will eventually get what you want is not good enough for a lot of people.” pg. 137
“Transformation Exercise: Really take the time to look at what recurring experiences you are having and if there is an underlying lesson you are missing.” pg. 152
“In most cases, your mind just wants the feeling of growth and not the actual growth. In most cases, your mind would rather stick to the beliefs it has viewed as true for so many years. Even if some of your beliefs are causing you suffering and pain, your mind might view it as even more pain to have to change them.
Your mind will do anything to preserve the imaginary picture it has created of who you are.” pg. 154
“Most of us know exactly what we need and want to do in our lives, and in most cases, not knowing isn’t the challenge at hand. The real challenge is usually not having enough trust and belief in ourselves to actually go out and get started.
Most people become programmed to ignore their inner knowing because they associate it with risk and potential failure. Your soul is always talking to you and guiding you; the question is whether you trust its higher wisdom or not.” pg. 180
“If you are not failing, it doesn’t mean you are just THAT good, it simply means you have grown stagnant and are not pushing yourself anymore. Never failing simply means you are playing it a little too safe.” pg. 182
“If you are not taking care of yourself first, you are not thinking long-term and you are an accident waiting to happen.
Taking time for yourself is not a bonus that you can afford only once or twice a year; it is an essential part of functioning fully.
How much is it going to benefit your loved ones and the people you are responsible for if you suddenly have serious physical or mental problems?
How much value are you offering your family when you let the frustration from your work affect them?
How much love can you really give to others when you are in constant regret over not following your dreams?
How can you truly give advice to someone when you are ignoring all the advice you yourself are getting from within?
You absolutely need to give the one activity you choose an honest shot and start implementing it into your daily life. At least give it your best shot before deciding whether it is a waste of time or not.
The activity you have chosen is designed to get you to take the time to nurture and love yourself.
With time and consistency, this small activity is going to build your self-love. The reason for this is simple: Only people who feel worthy of their own attention and love will give themselves permission to do something that would give them those emotions.
How often do you give yourself the attention and love you really deserve?” pg. 189
“The most successful people in all arenas of life are those who just stick to the basics and do the simple stuff over and over again until they get to where they want to be. . . .
They are all just the result of sticking to the basics and becoming better and better through practice. The cool thing about sticking to the basics is that often you will start seeing results very quickly and the results will keep improving the more you stick with it.” pg. 197
“I believe all of our problems here on Earth are caused by our insecurities as human beings. If you start allowing just 1% more of your true self to shine through, you have done a great service not only to yourself, but also to this planet and the rest of humanity.” pg. 199
“EXPRESS what you are and allow people to reject it if that is what they want to do. Just make sure to at least express that beautiful soul of yours. Embrace the vulnerability of putting yourself completely out there and just letting whatever happens, happen.” pg. 200
“Life is so simple. You are born, you have a lot of different experiences, and then you die.
If you constantly try to stand in the way of the dance, it will not feel right. Let go and allow the dance of life to unfold in the exact manner that it should.
Let go, knowing that nothing can ever hurt what you are at the very core and that everything here on this planet is just another experience for you to go through.” pg. 200-201
Book: borrowed from SSF Main Library.
The question of "Are my beliefs in this area improving the quality of my life?" is important to see if you might have limiting beliefs. And he asks you what some new, empowering beliefs might be about that area of life to really improve the quality of your life. I appreciate Mateo's perspective and the concepts he shares about looking at your own life and where you might be holding yourself back. We are responsible for the results we're getting in our lives. If we want different results, we're responsible for creating them, and that starts with our thoughts and beliefs.
“The only way you can find what you are looking for is to stop knowing so much.” pg. 10
“You have so much talent and potential inside you that is not coming through because your mind has imprisoned you.” pg. 11
“Become aware of the associations you currently have to the Unknown. After you have found them, I want you to take a look at what other meanings you could use that would make it easier for you to move into the Unknown and seize the opportunity to grow.” pg. 19
“Here is a list of some meanings you could add to your definition of the Unknown … : Success, growth, determination, spirit of the champion, warrior mentality, elite performance, happiness, exhilaration, acceptance, vitality, power, movement, velocity, invincibility, greatness, accomplishment, victory, evolution, fortitude, vigor, tenacity, ecstasy, delight, flexibility, flow.” pg. 19
“If we couldn’t rely on our beliefs as a means of operating in daily life, we would never evolve or grow, because we would constantly have to learn the same thing over and over again. But how are we going to become the master of our experience if our beliefs are always going to be in control? We are going to do so by choosing the beliefs we want to operate with.” pg. 31
“I am going to repeat this point again: There is no right or wrong belief. The only thing that matters is whether or not a belief is improving the quality of your life or not. You need to be brutally honest when you look at your beliefs and see whether they are giving you positive and joyous emotions in the long run.” pg. 35
“I want you to really get that your current results mean nothing with regard to who you are or who you can be. Your current results in life are merely an indication of what sort of beliefs you have entertained up to this point.” pg. 53
“Because your beliefs are responsible for external results, the lack of results in a given area of life is a very good indication that you have limiting beliefs in that area. Therefore, I want you to make a list of the areas of your life that are important to you but simply aren’t meeting your expectations. Doing this will create some awareness and help you find some of the limiting beliefs that are holding you back.” pg. 54
“So many people are searching for their talents and God-given gifts; meanwhile they are missing the biggest and most obvious one. They are missing the fact that they are the creator of their own destiny, in the sense that they are literally designing their experience of life through the meanings they create.” pg. 61
“I am simply encouraging you to take two steps: Stop using the meanings you create to demoralize yourself, and start using the meanings you create to empower yourself!” pg. 63
“Suppressing your emotions can haunt you later in life in the form of disease, and it is definitely not something I will recommend you do. The problem is not the emotion; the problem is the context in which you use the emotion.” pg. 63
“The reason why these emotions are causing people so much suffering is because they are not content with just feeling the emotion. They also have to create a negative story around it, start identifying with it, and carry it around with them as if it was an emblem of achievement. People tend to make emotions a part of their identity, instead of just seeing them as energy that is passing through their body.” pg. 64
“When I changed my rules in the area of wealth, it also became a lot easier for me to acquire additional wealth. Since I was already wealthy, I was behaving and feeling like someone who is wealthy.
Do you think it is easier to acquire wealth when you already know you are wealthy?
Most importantly, I gave myself the gratitude I deserved right NOW instead of delaying the positive emotions I could feel because I didn’t live up to some imaginary rule I had created in my mind.” pg. 75
“When you are fully present with whatever it is you are doing, something interesting happens. When you are present, you are literally going to see your limiting beliefs as they come out of nowhere and try to take control of your behavior.
The more awareness you bring to the present moment, the more you will realize there are all sorts of negative beliefs running in the background. These are the programs you don’t usually notice because you are either in the past or the future.” pg. 93
“Being aware of the present moment simply means you never believe the illusion that the future is going to be better than what is going on right now.” pg. 96
“Plan, dream, and organize all you want; just don’t start believing that what you have planned for the future is going to be any better than your current moment. You are going to be in the present moment your entire life. If you are focusing on how good the future (that really doesn’t exist) is going to be, you are just running on the hamster wheel hoping to get somewhere.
Life is right now, in this glorious moment right in front of you. I believe that if you are not allowing yourself to be happy right NOW, nothing external in the future is going to change that permanently.” pg. 97
“As I have mentioned earlier, the problem is never the emotion itself, but the context in which the emotion and beliefs are being utilized. If you don’t fully accept that a certain emotion or thought is there, you are going to resist it. When you resist it, you are going to judge, blame, or feel guilty.
This means that in your effort to get rid of the emotion of jealousy, you add another layer, shame over the fact that you are jealous. It means that in your effort to get rid of the thought of worthlessness, you add a layer of blame.” pg. 99
“In the beginning it can feel challenging to maintain awareness of the present moment. Like everything else in life, however, it is only a challenge until it becomes easy.” pg. 103
“Some good questions to use when doing self-inquiry:
- Why do I believe this?
- Do I know with absolute certainty that this is true?
- How do I know this?
- Do I have permission to change this belief?
- Is this belief enhancing or decreasing the quality of my life?
- Why do I feel this way?
- What secondary benefits am I getting from believing this?” pg. 106
“Exploring, Not Fixing
This process is not about fixing anything. It is simply about exploring the beliefs of your mind and seeing how your inner world is operating. If you happen to find beliefs and meanings that are not improving the quality of your life, by all means go ahead and change them.
You shouldn’t have the expectation of finding something to fix. Your mind is perfect just as it is and doesn’t need fixing; sometimes it is just fun to have a nice tune-up of some of the old beliefs that are no longer serving you.” pg. 112-113
“‘Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world.’ — Arthur Schopenhauer” pg. 113
“Most people think it is hard to find evidence for a given belief, but they soon realize the power of the reticular activating system when they actually go out and try. Doing this is very powerful, and once you get the hang of it, you will be amazed at the amount of evidence you can effortlessly find for any new belief.” pg. 121
“Affirmations are done in two forms:
- I believe that (insert the belief you have chosen).
- From this day forward I will (insert the belief you have chosen).
You should do your affirmations on a daily basis until you start acting on the specific beliefs in your everyday life without thinking about it. Step two is when you find evidence for why your new beliefs are true.” pg. 125-126
“By bringing awareness into your life, you will start having a completely different experience of life. The simplest things can become the greatest joys, and each moment is another chance to get a glimpse into the truly incredible experience we have been blessed with.
You will start to see your illusions for what they are, and one by one, your limiting beliefs will lose a lot of their power. Once you use the power of awareness to see these previously hidden agents of control, you will start to question them, and this questioning will eventually set you free.” pg. 126
“I completely appreciate that you might not be ready to let go of some of your limiting beliefs yet, and I am not asking you to do so. There is no right or wrong in life, and therefore I would never ask you to change anything. You are absolutely perfect just as you are.
I am simply asking you to bring awareness to your experience so you yourself can start choosing the beliefs that are running your life. I am simply asking you to experience life more on your own terms.” pg. 126-127
“Blame has one function and one function only: to deny responsibility of your present moment because it is too painful to realize you are in fact responsible for the hurt you are feeling.” pg. 130
“Here are some good questions to ask yourself:
- What am I constantly judging about others?
- What are some things that I absolutely can’t stand in others?
- What things do I view as weakness in others?
- Is it possible that I have some of these same traits or perceived weaknesses and I just don’t want to recognize them?
- Is it possible that I can’t stand something about others because it is a reminder of some of my own unmet needs?” pg. 133-134
“Just because you are providing for yourself, have a place to live and a job, doesn’t mean you are taking full responsibility for your life. Taking full responsibility for your life means that you stop blaming external situations and events and step up to the plate as the ultimate creator of your life experience.” pg. 135
“Take responsibility and realize that you are in the situation you are in because of you. You don’t suddenly have debt, become overweight, or wake up to an unhappy relationship. These are all things that happen over time as a result of not taking responsibility for the things that needed to be done.” pg. 136
“Our mind has literally become programmed to laziness and wanting immediate results. For the same reason, taking consistent action and just having faith that you will eventually get what you want is not good enough for a lot of people.” pg. 137
“Transformation Exercise: Really take the time to look at what recurring experiences you are having and if there is an underlying lesson you are missing.” pg. 152
“In most cases, your mind just wants the feeling of growth and not the actual growth. In most cases, your mind would rather stick to the beliefs it has viewed as true for so many years. Even if some of your beliefs are causing you suffering and pain, your mind might view it as even more pain to have to change them.
Your mind will do anything to preserve the imaginary picture it has created of who you are.” pg. 154
“Most of us know exactly what we need and want to do in our lives, and in most cases, not knowing isn’t the challenge at hand. The real challenge is usually not having enough trust and belief in ourselves to actually go out and get started.
Most people become programmed to ignore their inner knowing because they associate it with risk and potential failure. Your soul is always talking to you and guiding you; the question is whether you trust its higher wisdom or not.” pg. 180
“If you are not failing, it doesn’t mean you are just THAT good, it simply means you have grown stagnant and are not pushing yourself anymore. Never failing simply means you are playing it a little too safe.” pg. 182
“If you are not taking care of yourself first, you are not thinking long-term and you are an accident waiting to happen.
Taking time for yourself is not a bonus that you can afford only once or twice a year; it is an essential part of functioning fully.
How much is it going to benefit your loved ones and the people you are responsible for if you suddenly have serious physical or mental problems?
How much value are you offering your family when you let the frustration from your work affect them?
How much love can you really give to others when you are in constant regret over not following your dreams?
How can you truly give advice to someone when you are ignoring all the advice you yourself are getting from within?
You absolutely need to give the one activity you choose an honest shot and start implementing it into your daily life. At least give it your best shot before deciding whether it is a waste of time or not.
The activity you have chosen is designed to get you to take the time to nurture and love yourself.
With time and consistency, this small activity is going to build your self-love. The reason for this is simple: Only people who feel worthy of their own attention and love will give themselves permission to do something that would give them those emotions.
How often do you give yourself the attention and love you really deserve?” pg. 189
“The most successful people in all arenas of life are those who just stick to the basics and do the simple stuff over and over again until they get to where they want to be. . . .
They are all just the result of sticking to the basics and becoming better and better through practice. The cool thing about sticking to the basics is that often you will start seeing results very quickly and the results will keep improving the more you stick with it.” pg. 197
“I believe all of our problems here on Earth are caused by our insecurities as human beings. If you start allowing just 1% more of your true self to shine through, you have done a great service not only to yourself, but also to this planet and the rest of humanity.” pg. 199
“EXPRESS what you are and allow people to reject it if that is what they want to do. Just make sure to at least express that beautiful soul of yours. Embrace the vulnerability of putting yourself completely out there and just letting whatever happens, happen.” pg. 200
“Life is so simple. You are born, you have a lot of different experiences, and then you die.
If you constantly try to stand in the way of the dance, it will not feel right. Let go and allow the dance of life to unfold in the exact manner that it should.
Let go, knowing that nothing can ever hurt what you are at the very core and that everything here on this planet is just another experience for you to go through.” pg. 200-201
Book: borrowed from SSF Main Library.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2018
Brilliant! One of the best self-help books I've ever read, without a doubt.
I absolutely loved it! and I'm honestly going to be working on and applying Mateo's principles from today, please do go ahead and read this book, you won't be disappointed. x
I absolutely loved it! and I'm honestly going to be working on and applying Mateo's principles from today, please do go ahead and read this book, you won't be disappointed. x
did-not-finish
January 11, 2014I got as far as him saying there's no absolute truth. Saw no point in continuing, I do not believe that.
March 17, 2023
Time oli loistava kirja, täydellistä jatkoa Eckhart Tollelle, jonka kirjoihin olen viimeaikoina ihastunut – tosin hieman erilaisessa mielessä.
Kirjan ideana on auttaa ymmärtämään, että elämämme laatu riippuu hyvin pitkälti siitä, millaisia uskomuksia meillä on, sillä elämme niiden mukaan. Monet niistä ovat täysin tiedostamattomia ja teemme myös paljon ihan vain autopilotilla kyseenalaistamatta enää edes, miksi toimimme jollakin tavalla.
Kirja auttaa kaivelemaan mieltä ja löytämään nämä uskomukset, jotka muodostavat elämämme "säännöt", eli ne toimintamallit, joiden mukaan elämme.
Kaikki niistä eivät ole ongelmallisia, mutta mukaan mahtuu paljon erityisesti tiedostamattomia uskomuksia, jotka vaikuttavat elämämme laatuun tavalla, joka ei auta meitä elämään parasta mahdollista elämäämme.
Kirjassa opetellaan paitsi tunnistamaan oman elämänlaadun kannalta "huonot" uskomukset ja korvaamaan ne uskomuksilla, jotka auttavat elämään sellaista elämää, jota oikeasti haluaa elää.
Sain tästä kirjasta todella paljon irti monella tasolla. Kirjassa oli oivaltavia ajatuksia, hyviä neuvoja ja ennen kaikkea se sisälsi loistavia harjoituksia, jotka auttoivat löytämään oman mielen sopukoissa kätköissä olleita uskomuksia, jotka kaipasivat työstämistä, jotta ne eivät rajoittaisi omaa elämää.
Pidin kirjassa erityisesti siitä, kuinka se korosti oman vastuun ottamista ja avasi aihetta paljon. Kirjan tavoitteena on auttaa lukijaansa näkemään, ettei hänen tarvitse olla kokemustensa uhri.
Kirjan nimessä mainitaan "manifesting", joka on trendikäs ilmiö. Pidin siitä, kuinka kirjassa käsiteltiin sitä, ettei manifestoiminen todellakaan toimi vain niin, että hokee itselleen olevansa rikas, kaunis, menestyvä yms., mihin ei oikeasti sisimmässään usko toivoen silti, että asiaa hokemalla niin tapahtuisi. Kirja antoi mielestäni hyvän pikakurssin siitä, mitä toimiva manifestointi oikeasti on.
Kirja on kirjoitettu mielestäni mukavalla otteella. Monien vastaavien kirjojen ongelmana on, että kirjoittaja puhuu lukijalleen alentuvalla tyylillä, joka lähinnä ärsyttää itseäni ainakin, mutta tässä kirjassa kirjoittaja oli löytänyt todella miellyttävän sävyn ja tavan ilmaista itseään.
Suosittelen tätä kirjaa kaikille, joita oman mielen kehittäminen kiinnostaa!
Kirjan ideana on auttaa ymmärtämään, että elämämme laatu riippuu hyvin pitkälti siitä, millaisia uskomuksia meillä on, sillä elämme niiden mukaan. Monet niistä ovat täysin tiedostamattomia ja teemme myös paljon ihan vain autopilotilla kyseenalaistamatta enää edes, miksi toimimme jollakin tavalla.
Kirja auttaa kaivelemaan mieltä ja löytämään nämä uskomukset, jotka muodostavat elämämme "säännöt", eli ne toimintamallit, joiden mukaan elämme.
Kaikki niistä eivät ole ongelmallisia, mutta mukaan mahtuu paljon erityisesti tiedostamattomia uskomuksia, jotka vaikuttavat elämämme laatuun tavalla, joka ei auta meitä elämään parasta mahdollista elämäämme.
Kirjassa opetellaan paitsi tunnistamaan oman elämänlaadun kannalta "huonot" uskomukset ja korvaamaan ne uskomuksilla, jotka auttavat elämään sellaista elämää, jota oikeasti haluaa elää.
Sain tästä kirjasta todella paljon irti monella tasolla. Kirjassa oli oivaltavia ajatuksia, hyviä neuvoja ja ennen kaikkea se sisälsi loistavia harjoituksia, jotka auttoivat löytämään oman mielen sopukoissa kätköissä olleita uskomuksia, jotka kaipasivat työstämistä, jotta ne eivät rajoittaisi omaa elämää.
Pidin kirjassa erityisesti siitä, kuinka se korosti oman vastuun ottamista ja avasi aihetta paljon. Kirjan tavoitteena on auttaa lukijaansa näkemään, ettei hänen tarvitse olla kokemustensa uhri.
Kirjan nimessä mainitaan "manifesting", joka on trendikäs ilmiö. Pidin siitä, kuinka kirjassa käsiteltiin sitä, ettei manifestoiminen todellakaan toimi vain niin, että hokee itselleen olevansa rikas, kaunis, menestyvä yms., mihin ei oikeasti sisimmässään usko toivoen silti, että asiaa hokemalla niin tapahtuisi. Kirja antoi mielestäni hyvän pikakurssin siitä, mitä toimiva manifestointi oikeasti on.
Kirja on kirjoitettu mielestäni mukavalla otteella. Monien vastaavien kirjojen ongelmana on, että kirjoittaja puhuu lukijalleen alentuvalla tyylillä, joka lähinnä ärsyttää itseäni ainakin, mutta tässä kirjassa kirjoittaja oli löytänyt todella miellyttävän sävyn ja tavan ilmaista itseään.
Suosittelen tätä kirjaa kaikille, joita oman mielen kehittäminen kiinnostaa!
November 13, 2020
Agreed with many of the theories presented in this book. We all have had different experiences leading up to the present time and interpret outside influences accordingly. Not expecting everyone's expectations of something to be the same as our own belief system is something I have believed for quite some time.
Liked the aspect of doing things we enjoyed as children to bring joy to our lives now. That was a primary object of what I wanted to "take up" in retirement. Making changes incrementally is another good suggestion for achieving happiness.
Liked the aspect of doing things we enjoyed as children to bring joy to our lives now. That was a primary object of what I wanted to "take up" in retirement. Making changes incrementally is another good suggestion for achieving happiness.
May 6, 2017
I need to read it again with paper & pen.
July 24, 2017
Seemed to repeat itself a lot
September 24, 2019
Can be very powerful for your life, if you want it to be.
April 14, 2020
Your mind is a prism within a prison. No holds barred.
April 17, 2025
excellent book
Cbt based, nice explanations, simple true and powerful! I recommend! You will love it. It is easy to read. Thanks
Cbt based, nice explanations, simple true and powerful! I recommend! You will love it. It is easy to read. Thanks
June 13, 2016
Have read other great books, but this one is wonderful.
I have read other self improvement books, but this one has the exact mixture of practicality and spirituality I wanted to get from a book of this kind. I also highly recommend "Love Yourself like your life depends on it" and "The Miracle Morning", but please don't miss this book to actually grow and really enjoy your life.
There's one chapter with questions regarding several aspects of your life. This helps to identify the areas or thought that have been holding you back. I didn't answer all questions, but the ones that are important for
me at this time and this made the process of self awareness easier. Don't miss this book.
I have read other self improvement books, but this one has the exact mixture of practicality and spirituality I wanted to get from a book of this kind. I also highly recommend "Love Yourself like your life depends on it" and "The Miracle Morning", but please don't miss this book to actually grow and really enjoy your life.
There's one chapter with questions regarding several aspects of your life. This helps to identify the areas or thought that have been holding you back. I didn't answer all questions, but the ones that are important for
me at this time and this made the process of self awareness easier. Don't miss this book.
September 21, 2015
Great read!
I rarely leave reviews but this book has great insight on how to be happier and not collapse in the midst of challenges. The message that stood out to me most is simply this, YOU, NOT external factors determine your reaction\feelings\mood. Nobody can make you feel anything, your thoughts are what make you feel what you do, and YOU control your thoughts. One of my favorite quotes was "everything we hear is an opinion. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth."
I rarely leave reviews but this book has great insight on how to be happier and not collapse in the midst of challenges. The message that stood out to me most is simply this, YOU, NOT external factors determine your reaction\feelings\mood. Nobody can make you feel anything, your thoughts are what make you feel what you do, and YOU control your thoughts. One of my favorite quotes was "everything we hear is an opinion. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth."
April 6, 2014
It's amazing to realize that as we grow up, the interpretations we made as children determine how we view reality. Crazy, right? The author talks about this confined way of thinking and how it actually limits us in life without our even realizing it. However, once you acknowledge these constructs, you can transform and finally live the way you've always wanted to. It literally is only a matter of perspective!
February 15, 2015
Many great things were mentioned. It was like chatting with my inner tough-love self, or at least my non-enabling partner. This is the second book I read to help my self-esteem and negative thought process, and I really liked how the author gave better examples, than the last book, on how to break that bad habit. I've highlighted some parts of the book so that I can go back and give myself some little pep talks when I fall off the mind recovering wagon.
December 31, 2013
Read it as an audio book and i must say the more i read it the more it felt like this book is deduced from the movie 'The matrix' and you could practise the excercises to become 'The One' only the one is defined as the person you wanted to be and that's it! Nice read. Confirmed some of my beliefs!
April 7, 2015
I picked this up solely because the title was intriguing. But I really enjoyed. Very logical in many ways & enlightening in others. I shall comeback to this & read it again slowly, do the exercises, & see what happens.
November 3, 2015
While being repetitive, this author makes some very good points and many of them I can relate to and can say "Oh, I've done that before". Good way to try and put yourself into a positive mindset and to go for your dreams!
November 12, 2013
Read this while running on my treadmill. Started it back when the weather was not good and just got back to it. Overall, great messages, just repeated a lot.
October 18, 2013
This book has some interesting points of information it brings up that are worth thinking about.
March 9, 2014
Excellent book on the ability fo the mind to control one's reality. This author takes a bit of a different twist on the concept. Fun read with action steps to accomplish change immediately.
March 29, 2014
3.5 Stars
March 23, 2016
Everyone has bullshit in their lives and it just takes someone pointing it out to help change it.
October 28, 2014
Very interesting. I found some great insights that I plan to use in my life.
May 4, 2021
One of my absolute favorites if you have self limiting beliefs - I reread this book at least once a year!
April 20, 2017
I loved The Mind Made Prison because it addressed an issue that is a core of everyday life that is paramount to an individual's success or failure in life. The language was easy and the writing was seamless as topics had a natural flow. The examples and quotes also made comprehension easier. The latter, which came at the end of key discussions or topics were like a summary of the entire discussion which served as a reminder of all the explanations or discussions preceding it. The exercises were not complex and served as a huge eye-opener of ones 'unconscious' perception.
Its a great book and it got me hooked. I couldn't put it down until I was done with it. I'm still working on the exercises though. I'll certainly recommend it to friends and family.
Its a great book and it got me hooked. I couldn't put it down until I was done with it. I'm still working on the exercises though. I'll certainly recommend it to friends and family.
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