Psycho-cybernetics
Cybernetics (loosely translated from the Greek): “a helmsman who steers his ship to port.” Psycho-Cybernetics is a term coined by Dr. Maxwell Maltz, which means, “steering your mind to a productive, useful goal so you can reach the greatest port in the world, peace of mind.” Since its first publication in 1960, Maltz’s landmark bestseller has inspired and enhanced the lives of more than 30 million readers. In this updated edition, with a new introduction and editorial commentary by Matt Furey, president of the Psycho-Cybernetics Foundation, the original text has been annotated and amplified to make Maltz’s message even more relevant for the contemporary reader. “Before the mind can work efficiently, we must develop our perception of the outcomes we expect to reach. Maxwell Maltz calls this Psycho-Cybernetics; when the mind has a defined target it can focus and direct and refocus and redirect until it reaches its intended goal.” —Tony Robbins (from Unlimited Power) Maltz was the first researcher and author to explain how the self-image (a term he popularized) has complete control over an individual’s ability to achieve (or fail to achieve) any goal. And he developed techniques for improving and managing self-image—visualization, mental rehearsal, relaxation—which have informed and inspired countless motivational gurus, sports psychologists, and self-help practitioners for more than fifty years.
Stats for nerds
21recommend
35mentions
29people
2008–2025years
69% recommend31% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- Regardless of that specific question, I found the book a great read.
It also has a Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psycho-Cybernetics
- Recognizing there is an issue to address is the half-way point. You are half-way to where you want to be. Celebrate that fact. Few people get that far.
I think the problem you are having is related how you perceive yourself - your positive self-image has been destroyed and replaced with a negative self-image. Please read Psycho-Cybernetics by Dr. Maxwell Maltz. It is a fundamental life-changer that posits our actions and thoughts are a result of how we perceive ourselves, and that this perception is the result of our upbringing and experiences. This isn't just a self-help book. It is the grand-daddy of all books ever written that attempt to build a construct around the most complicated thing in the universe. I'd go so far as to say that book is the foundation for two generations of therapists and self-help personalities. I'm over-simplifying it, of course. Read it. If does nothing else for you, the epiphanies it creates will be satisfying and give you a much-needed perspective, for it seems obvious to me that your problem is mostly related to your mindset.
It is never too late to achieve any goal or dream so long as you are still willing to chase them. Many people don't start a family until they are in their 40s. Some of the most successful businesses were started later in life. Some people don't find happiness (true happiness) until their 60's. This is life. Its different for everyone and there is barely any reason to it so don't try to understand or deconstruct it. Know thyself and nothing more.
I was foolishly trying to find happiness in work or in the many companies I started; even if some were successful, it was all empty until I became aware of meaningless things. I didn't start a family until 38 and didn't find true happiness and real purpose until the moment my first child was born. In my view, this is the meaning of life. If humanity exists for a singular purpose, it is to have children. That doesn't mean you have no purpose if you, by choice or circumstance, have no children. Many people find purpose outside of our natural purpose.
Absent of that experience, the focus should be self-improvement in the areas of mind, body and soul. Improve yourself and others will gravitate to you. Inside of all of us there is a light. Let your light shine. Your light unconsciously gives other people permission to shine.
Ideas for entrepreneurial projects do not come from within. They come from outside and concern themselves with the needs, desires, and pains of others. If you try to sit around and think of them, you will not discover them. You need to look outside of the box, start with a customer in mind and work your way backwards through who they are, what they struggle with, and what they say to themselves about it (internal dialogue - the key to most any business is to get in between the conversation that takes place inside of the customer's head.)
Lastly, if you ever wanted to just talk, I'm a great listener. Good luck to you.
- Went through this process exactly the same "mid-life crisis" couple of years ago. The books; The Flow-> Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Psycho-Cybernetics -> Maxwell Maltz both helped me pull through it. In my own specific case, it was a combination of lackluster jobs and our own autistic son's growth issues. I fixed my lackluster jobs by challenging myself by setting a goal. A goal to break into FAANG. I know its not the kind of goal one aspires to achieve and wakes you up from the bed. My REAL goal is FIRE(though I am in early 40s) but getting into FAANG would help accelerate that. Both of those books helped me fundamentally "reprogram " myself and gave me focus and motivation to keep chugging. I wish you the very best.
- Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi(rip) and Psycho Cybernetics. I am battling a personal identity crisis(mid life existence) and these two books have guided me on what is important in life and how to lead a truly fulfilling life.
- Posted on a previous thread Flow mihaly csikszentmihalyi Psycho cybernetics by Dr. Maltz. Helped me grapple with my midlife crisis and gave me true purpose- to achieve my goals on my own terms. No something set by the society’s concept of achievement. Highly recommend reading it and not audible listening
- Cool. A somewhat related self help book about that from 1960: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psycho-Cybernetics
“Maltz became interested in why setting goals works. He learned that the power of self-affirmation and mental visualization techniques used the connection between the mind and the body. He specified techniques to develop a positive inner goal as a means of developing a positive outer goals”
Related
The New Psycho-Cybernetics
2 recommend · 2
The cybernetic brain
2 recommend · 2
The Magic of Thinking Big
18 recommend · 22
Cybernetics, or control and communication in the animal and the machine
4 recommend · 10
Mastery
25 recommend · 40
2009–2026
The psychology of computer programming
44 recommend · 122
