Imagine That!: Igniting Your Brain for Creativity and Peak Performance Hardcover – October 4, 2016

July 16, 2017 l#Forgiveness #ExceptionalLife #ImagineThatJust finished reading Imagine That: Igniting Your Brain for Creativity and Peak Performance by James Mapes. I started back in January. Okay, so you want to know what took me so long. I was reading the first copy and someone I care about was having a hard time, the information in the book was validating my experience and giving me techniques that I could use, so being my grandmother's child who taught me to give to others in need, I gave my first copy to a person I thought could use the information in the book.However, this bought my reading to a halt. I decided to buy two copies just in case I find someone else I could share the book with. Between January and now I had to read three other books and a training manual. I couldn't wait to get back to Imagine That, and as I was reading it someone else was sharing an issue that they want to work on, I gave them the third copy, this time I did not have to interrupt my reading and so I have completed the reading and the journey continues.Practicing being in the NOW is excellent and keeps you in the present moment to experience joy, but very difficult to keep the mind present #AnyWhereButHere seems to be where the mind wants to lead you back to the past or the future, worries, planning etc.... Harnessing your imagination, allows you to make your mind work for you, so you have the opportunity to live and exceptional life what that means for you. Always what that means for you and not what someone else thinks you should be.Imagine That: Igniting Your Brain for Creativity and Peak Performance has so many tools that one could use for creating strategies to reach your goals while having compassion and empathy for self and others. This is a person taking his whole life's work and personal experience of everything he knows to live an exceptional life and sharing it with others. This is no small thing! It's like watching a two hour movie of someone's whole life and getting a message that you can use with out suffering yourself. #TheMovieLoverInMeI recently had the opportunity to share with someone all that I know about letting go the fear of flying and that person said to me, "something you said to me, made me not afraid. I had a really good flight. I am not afraid to fly any more," (paraphrasing) I only talked to the person for less than a minute but it was all of my thoughts that I had used over many years, to let go fear myself about flying and the person got it just like that. Share your truth, you never know who could move forward from it!9/14/2017It's been about two months since I finished reading Imagine That: Igniting Your Brain for Creativity and Peek Performance, it validated my life experience on getting things done and I am happy to be hitting my 2017 goals!

This book proves you can reach your full potential at any age. Our brains don't have to hold us back. They can be the gateway to a wonderful life. "Imagine That!"

Wonderful!

Full disclosure: I have known James Mapes for many years. I was his booking agent and we worked together for seven years as he barnstormed the college and universities all over America, doing a stage hypnosis act that audiences found highly entertaining. But it was more than that - because James was on a mission - even then. Based on a number of personal and life-changing experiences he knew one thing for certain - most human beings sold themselves short; they never reached anything close to their full potential because they just didn't understand the magic and power of their own brains. So through his hypnosis show, James entertained - but he also got people to understand that if someone could find themselves trapped on stage in an imaginary box - when the audience could well see that there was nothing holding that person from moving freely - what was the lesson there? How could that apply to everyday life? How were THEY holding THEMSELVES back?James evolved to take his message to corporate world next. He took his lessons about the success-mind connection and showed audiences how to unleash their potential and reach their professional & personal goals. His message resonated individually and for the organization as well. James was, and still is, a very valuable messenger at those meetings.In both these areas the one common factor is James' presence. On stage he is about the most charismatic and inspiring figure you can imagine. From the moment the audience sets eyes on him, they know they are in for something special. They are intrigued. They don't just pay attention - they were compelled to pay attention because on stage James is truly mesmerizing. He connects with people in a way that literally changes lives - and more than anything, that's what matters to James.And so the book: I've been after James to complete this book for some time. But like most projects of this magnitude, they are organic and come at their own pace. In James' case, a few life experiences along the way shaped and then reshaped this book. He wanted to bring what he knows best - the incredible power of the human mind - and reveal proven ways to apply it to help people in these uncomfortable, disruptive and uncertain times. He does so in this book in an entirely authentic manner - taking the reader on a journey that will have them highlighting, taking notes and dog-earring pages.Yes, I'm a fan of James' work. I know how committed he is to making a difference in people's lives. Imagine That! is the culmination of his life's work so far - an inspiring road map that will help readers unlock the door to their dreams. Really! This is a book you will buy and share and track about with your friends. Imagine That!

Filled with examples and exercises marked as "your turn", this book can be put into practice right away. I enjoyed doing the exercises, through them i got a clearer picture of some feelings and issues that before i couldn't pin point. The book also includes links to videos where the author explains certain subjects or exercises from each chapter. Even though the idea is really nice and innovative, i found it distracting to go back and forth from the videos to the book, so i sticked to the written explanations. I can see how many readers would rather choose the videos and skip the written explanations tho, you decide. I think the book is well written enough that there is no need to add videos that explain what is already there, but I did enjoy seeing the author, it gives a more personal feeling to it. I would have loved links to printable worksheets for completing the exercises though.In conclusion, I think this book is great for those interested about personal development, it is clearly written, with several references to external resources, and neatly organized "thinkpoints" at the end of each chapter to keep track of important ideas. It has a little bit of everything to boost your life and get rid of bad habits and thinking patterns. Check the book description and give it a try! I got my e-ARC from Netgalley

This book is a gem. You would think as a master practitioner of nlp and having read into the power of the mind and having an extensive library that I would know most of what is to be said but you would be wrong. James Mapes writing provides real insight and a deep learning that I've not experienced anywhere else through tapes or seminars. I had some real breakthrough moments reading Imagine That!: Igniting Your Brain for Creativity and Peak Performance which I can only thank James for. I'm glad I come across James Mapes at this time in release of this book as he writes it's been years in the making and I'm both grateful and glad I didn't miss this one.This has become a precious tome in my bookshelf.