Meeting Life Goals and Self-Actualization
James R. Doty, a neurosurgeon and prolific contributor to the field of medicine, offers insight into the possibilities of meeting life goals and experiencing a state of self-actualization by using the potential influence of one's heart and brain.
Challenging Childhood and Finding Hope
The author tells his life story and explains how he was able to use simple meditative approaches to balance his efforts and plans with his professional and personal goals. Having grown up in a poor family in California, with a depressed and abusive alcoholic of a father, a mother who had suicidal tendencies and a brother who was constantly bullied by other children, Doty had a big responsibility in the family as he often found himself in situations where he had to protect his family. This melancholy environment seemed to be the epitome of the author at the time, and in fact, it was beginning to have a severe adverse impact on various elements of his life.
Discovering the Magic Shop
Things took a turn later on in his life, when as an adolescent; Doty came across an intriguing magic shop operated by a benevolent woman called Ruth. Noticing the troubled state the boy was in, Ruth helped the author to focus on his future and deal with his past. The author states in page 213 “She taught me the pointlessness of wishing for a different past and the futility of worrying about all of the frightening futures over which I had no control (Doty).” The statement implies that the author was deeply troubled by his past and needed the motivation to concentrate on bettering his future. Doty would use Ruth’s magic to find tranquility in an environment that was unsafe and unconducive for child growth at best.
Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Success
Nevertheless, two instances in Doty’s life nearly derailed him from achieving the status and success that he enjoys today. The first was a car crash he was involved in while still in residency that threatened to end his life. The second was a misinformed business decision, which led him to invest in a project that led him to near bankruptcy. However, the author stresses that application of the teachings of Ruth, the woman in the magic shop, enabled him to get back on track in both instances. He gives a specific recollection of Ruth’s instruction for him to open up his heart, which allowed him to realize a profound destiny that surpassed basic needs that he desired.
The Relationship Between Mind and Heart
He exudes self-belief and confidence as well as a sense of honesty in the book. In addition, the author provides insight into the relationship between the mind and the heart, stating in page 198, “Another mystery of the brain is that it will always choose what is familiar over what is unfamiliar. By visualizing my own future success, I was making this success familiar to my brain. Intention is a funny thing, and whatever the brain puts its intention on is what it sees (Doty).”
Finding Purpose and Destiny
He opines that a collaboration between an individual’s heart and mind can result in happier, healthier lives where love, kindness, and compassion are easy to give and receive (Doty). The author emphasizes that his education at the magic shop helped him appreciate this notion, and later on, he used the scientific method to prove it.
Inspiration to Find Your Own Destiny
This positive and intriguing life story given in this book is not only empowering but also inspiring. The description of the association between the mind and the heart and the way this correlation is applicable in focusing on one’s goals, designing the strategies to achieve them, and embarking on a dedicated action plan towards one’s purpose and destiny. This book is a good read for people who seek inspiration to find their destiny.
References
Doty, J.R. Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the. New York City: Penguin Random House, 2016. Document.
