The Practicing Mind: Bringing Discipline and Focus Into Your Life
by Thomas M. Sterner
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Book Summary Information
Author: Thomas M. SternerEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-03-01
ISBN: 0977657205
Number of pages: 100
Publisher: Mountain Sage Publishing
Book Reviews of The Practicing Mind: Bringing Discipline and Focus Into Your Life
Book Review: Promising and Practical
Summary: 4 Stars
Updated: September 2010
Originally, I left a one star review of this book, and a review that didn't have much character or content other than a tone of "I'm mad at the world." A couple of fellow "Amazon-er's" called me out on it. At first, it didn't really make much of a difference to me, other than bring about an antagonistic feeling that I had to defend my position. Maybe it was their approach, or maybe I was still too far down and out? Nonetheless, I am grateful. I suppose it was their "encouragement," that stuck somewhere in my mind and led me to give this book another chance.
Now, I'm looking at things from a completely different perspective, and I've revisited this book in a new light, from this new perspective. I've struggled for so long to make some fundamental changes within myself, and I finally feel that I've got my feet on the ground and am making progress. I've dug up all sorts of old books to help inspire me in my pursuit, and this was one of them.
The second time around, I've found a new appreciation for this book because I feel it highlights pretty well most of the turning points or conundrums I've encountered in my quest for self-improvement, granted the author often draws from and relates everything to his own life experience, which, I admit, didn't quite resonate so well with me the first time around; i.e., I know nothing about music. However, I have noticed some radical shifts and changes that I've made in my own life, "the wake left behind the boat," if you will, quite similar to the author's experience in college when he became again frustrated with his musical progression, and happened to come across his "5-year plan" to perfection which he had written for himself just 3 years prior. This is where he realized that the real rewards were in the struggle, in a sense, and that, at least in music, the battle could never truly be won. At first he was devastated, briefly, but then found an inner peace when he realized that he could ALWAYS continue to grow. The truth is, you get out what you put in. I had a similar "epiphany" of sorts when I recognized that I had consciously created real, lasting, and significant change in myself, and I used that as proof that I could muster up the strength to do it again if I followed the same basic steps; it was also quite inspirational to have such a realization. And now, I no longer focus solely on the "horizon."
Finally, I'd add that this is a quick and easy read... but don't let that fool you! Don't over look the words of wisdom and the ideas reiterated throughout this book. It might not come to you at first glance, first read, over night, or within a year, but it's there hiding in plain sight. I guess that's why many of us struggle to find and incorporate them because they are so fundamental that they can so easily be overlooked, and taken for granted! My guess is that I bought this book over two years ago, and it's only now that I'm finally realizing it's potential. Albeit, the journey is more important than the end or the start. And I honestly can't devote any changes I've made to this book in particular, because I've read so many along the way, before and after, which also have inspired and guided me to manifest the changes that I have, and continue working on those that I desire. But I will certainly keep this book nearby in case I should slip or need a simple yet potent reminder of how to stay or where to get back on course.
By the way, the only reason I gave this book 4 stars as opposed to 5 stars is because while I think it's a good book, I think it can be better. However, paradoxically, I think that is part of why I think this book is, in a way, great. Writing is an art, and there is no real perfection in art, there is only freedom. While I feel this book lacks some finer details or technical information that would appeal to someone like me, who likes to think that there is only logic and reason, and little room for faith, I have grown to recognize the dire importance of having at least a little faith, at least to have faith in oneself, and in this case, to have faith in the process. I think that writing a book is certainly hard work. I'm sure there's lots of writing and rewriting and rewriting... till you finally just give in and say, "that's it, I'm beating a dead horse and this will just have to do, or I will go mad!" And that's where faith comes in, it's the first step, and it can be daunting, especially if you shy away from it. So, while I give the content 4 stars, I say "Bravo!" for putting pen to paper, and even going the (several) steps further to getting this book to the press because that, I am sure, certainly required great discipline as well as "The Practicing Mind."
Summary of The Practicing Mind: Bringing Discipline and Focus Into Your Life
Present moment awareness is an essential ingredient in life if one expects to experience any degree of authentic peace and contentment. It has been acknowledged for centuries as the cornerstone of spiritual awakening in all traditions of Eastern thought. In the West, however, it is still a relatively unrecognized concept of living. The Western mind is always restless, never content with the moment. Its internal dialogue is always firing off thoughts filled with emotional content and pulling the individual out of the present and into the past or future. But individuals raised in Western culture are becoming increasingly more aware of their overall sense of mental exhaustion, their lack of discipline and their inability to focus on demand. They are willing to expend the energy necessary to experience inner peace and a quiet mind that is waiting to follow the direction of their will. They are realizing that the endless struggle to fulfill the insatiable appetite of instant gratification is fruitless and tiresome at best. They are ripe for a new path in life and eager for a new set of instructions. This is the purpose of The Practicing Mind. It comprehensively deals with helping the individual understand exactly what present moment awareness is, how we are raised in a manner contradictory to this, and how we change our mindset to make this a part of our daily living. This book is accessible to readers of all philosophical backgrounds. Regardless of your perspective, you will find the book's insights most compelling.You can find the wisdom of both The Practicing Mind and The Meditating Mind in the combination package: The Total Mindset.
For your convenience, THE PRACTICING MIND is now in mp3 CD audiobook format.
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