Maxwell Maltz is known for
his self-help
books, especially Psycho-Cybernetics. He got into the field because of observations
he made as a plastic surgeon. He found
that the change in appearance he created brought about a transformation in
some, freeing them to be happy, engaged people.
Others were just as depressed and disappointed after the surgery as
before. The difference, he decided, was self-image.
In Creative Living for Today, Maltz encourage people to have a
positive, realistic self-image. He says
life should be lively: creative, interesting, engaging, adventurous. For too many, life is dull, disconnected, and
fearful. We can choose which kind of
life we lead, and it is largely a matter of how we think about ourselves.
Maltz intends the book to be
practical inspiration for living the good life.
In it, he offers advice on how to practically improve your self-image
and your life.
Goals
are very important to Maltz. Large and small, long-term and daily, goals give
us something to move toward. Goals and
self-image have an effect on each other.
To pursue a goal, we must be able to image we can achieve it. Achieving challenging, realistic goals
strengthens our self-image as people who can succeed. In addition, activity and productivity is
pleasurable in itself. Endeavor to enjoy
what you do.
Engagement is another major
issue for the author. To withdraw from
life, and especially to isolate yourself from other people, is to separate
yourself from pleasure. Relationships
with people are some of the greatest things we can enjoy. Admittedly, life and relationships can be
difficult, but that is something we all face.
Maltz argues that engagement is good, even necessary, and if we see
ourselves as capable of living well and having good relationships even in the
face of difficulties, which he says is true, then our self-image will help us
live it.
Maltz doesn’t present a
world where we can have perfection if we just think right. Everybody gets hurt; we all have emotional
scars. Maturity is learning to accept
this imperfect world and living creatively in it. We must occasionally create some mental space
for ourselves to be refreshed so we can engage life with energy, learn to
forgive ourselves and others, and constantly tend our self-image.
Maltz illustrates his points
with many stories. Most of these come
from his own life, sometimes his dealings with patients, but often drawing on
other experiences.
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