Maxwell Maltz - Psycho-Cybernetics: Updated and Expanded

PERIGEE

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Copyright 2015 by Psycho-Cybernetics Foundation Inc.

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ISBN: 978-0-698-40736-7

Updated Perigee trade paperback edition: November 2015

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Cover design by Eric Fuentecilla

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Contents

FOREWORD

How Psycho-Cybernetics Changed My Lifeand Can Do the Same for You

T here are two kinds of self-help books: those you read and say, What a great book, and those you experience so profoundly your life is positively changed forever. When you truly experience a great self-help book, you can mark down the date and time you accidentally stumbled across itor who referred you to it. You can also clearly determine the distinction between who you used to be, before you read the book, and who you are now.

This is what will happen when you read Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz, MD, the recognized classic in the field of self-help books. Since it was first published in 1960, Psycho-Cybernetics has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide. As a result of people experiencing this book, readers in all walks of life have succeeded at higher levels than ever before. The self-help industry itself was changed, too. Today, virtually everything written and discussed about visualization or mental imagery was directly influenced by Maltzs work and is deeply rooted in the principles of Psycho-Cybernetics.

My Introduction to Psycho-Cybernetics

In February 1987, shortly after graduating from college and moving to California, I decided to go into business for myself as a personal fitness trainer. Because I had won a national title in college wrestling, and had been trained by Olympic champions Dan Gable and Bruce Baumgartner, I figured I had something valuable to teach young athletes as well as anyone who desired to be more physically fit.

Even as I was embarking on this career, I felt that something was holding me back. There was this inner voice telling me I wasnt good enough, that I couldnt make it.

To be honest: First, I had no business experience. Second, I had very little money. And third, deep down I felt like a failureeven before I started.

Imagine that. I wanted to succeed but felt like a failure.

Why did I feel like a failure?

When I think about that question, I recall that when I was in high school, my goal was to wrestle for Dan Gable at the University of Iowa. I fulfilled that goalbut I wasnt the number one guy in my weight class. I was almost always number two. I got a lot of matches in tournaments and dual meets and won the majority of thembut I was not in the drivers seat. And so, after my sophomore season, I transferred to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where Id be on the varsity.

During my junior year at Edinboro, I set a single-season win record for the team (39) and won the NCAA II national title. After winning the Division II title, I was ranked seventh overall in the country and qualified for the Division I tournament. My goals were to not only win the tournament Id already won, but the Division I tourney as well.

Well, I fell short. Way short. I was crushed afterwardyet fully committed to coming back as a senior and making up for my poor showing.

During my senior year, despite having far more skill than ever before, I fell short again. I took fifth in the Division II tournament and did not qualify for the Division I meet.

There were many reasons I can give now for why I fell short, but at the time I couldnt put my finger on them. And when I began my business, I suspected that it was these same reasons that were causing me to worry and feel fearful about the future.

As fate would have it, in early May of 1987, when I was nearly out of business due to a lack of clientele, Jack, a successful 57-year-old entrepreneur, signed up for 12 lessons. Whenever he showed up to train, hed scan to see what books I had in my office, which would lead to a lively discussion of what we were reading.

During Jacks fifth session, when he was catching a breather between sets, he asked the following life-changing question: Matt, have you ever read Psycho-Cybernetics?

No, I replied. Is it good?

Well, its sort of like the bible of self-help. You really need to read it.

Over the next ten minutes Jack talked to me about success and the self-image. He told me that Dr. Maltz was a plastic surgeon who figured out that a person cannot rise above how he sees himself. Our future, Jack said, is controlled by a mental blueprint we have inside our subconscious mind, and it dictates where we think we belong. If you want to get more clients and make more money, then you need to expand your self-image before you can have them. Trying to achieve without expanding your self-image doesnt lead to lasting positive change.

After Jacks lesson, I got in my car and drove to the nearest bookstore, the Capitola Book Caf. I pulled a copy of Psycho-Cybernetics from the shelf and drove back to my office to begin reading. In the preface, which appears in its original version in this edition, Dr. Maltz wrote, This book has been designed not merely to be read but to be experienced. You can acquire information from reading a book. But to experience you must creatively respond to information. He goes on to advise readers to continue to practice the techniques in the book and reserve judgment for at least 21 daysthe amount of time that, in fact, research now confirms it takes to effect change. He cautions readers not to overanalyze the techniques, critique them, or intellectualize about whether they could work. You can [only] prove them to yourself, he adds, by