“Living in peaceful unity seems like an ideal because who has not occasionally strayed from that to experience worries, anxiety, uninhibited thoughts, overwhelming feelings, and seeing no way out of difficult circumstances? When the effects of these life experiences persist and change our mood, rational deliberation, and behavior, they disrupt the normal flow, joy, and unity of life,” writes Dr. Jaime A. Pineda in his new book, Controlling Mental Chaos: Harnessing the Power of the Creative Mind. “They obscure its wonder. When this disruption turns unmanageable, it becomes the basis for physical and mental disorders, both autoimmune and emotional, heart problems, addictive behaviors, and suicidal ideation. Even worse, if negative ideations become a recurring issue, psychopathology is the inevitable consequence.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaime-a-pineda-09350bb
Dr. Pineda combines an effective blend of spiritualistic references, theological analogies, alternative psychology techniques, and statistically-backed insights. There’s never the sense he is throwing everything in the kitchen sink, nor that he’s capriciously pulling from multiple sources without a single, coherent whole in mind. Rather, he’s able to brilliantly demonstrate his philosophy while communicatively pulling from said, multiple sources. “Living in peaceful unity seems like an ideal because who has not occasionally strayed from that to experience worries, anxiety, uninhibited thoughts, overwhelming feelings, and seeing no way out of difficult circumstances? When the effects of these life experiences persist and change our mood, rational deliberation, and behavior, they disrupt the normal flow, joy, and unity of life.
They obscure its wonder. When this disruption turns unmanageable, it becomes the basis for physical and mental disorders, both autoimmune and emotional, heart problems, addictive behaviors, and suicidal ideation. Even worse, if negative ideations become a recurring issue, psychopathology is the inevitable consequence,” Dr. Pineda writes. “While the pressures of life exacerbate such difficulties, over millennia, many have recognized that the root of the problem is our fearful and uncontrolled mind, one centered on ego-based rumination. Indeed, in a not very flattering description, Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha (c. 5th to 4th century BCE), recognized this core predicament as the singular psychological basis for human suffering 2500 years ago. He used the term ‘kapicitta,’ meaning monkey-like mind, to describe it…Siddhartha was a gifted and insightful psychologist who recognized the problem of the obsessive mind, diagnosed the source, and provided insights to its solution.”
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Controlling-Mental-Chaos-Harnessing-Creative/dp/1538179806
Through these passages, Dr. Pineda’s craft springs from the page in full display. It’s something as a fellow writer I can’t help but admire, given the fact nonfiction books usually aren’t revered for their evocation. But Pineda is able to do this without sacrificing factual and topical integrities, keeping everything balanced and in an appropriate state of check. The house style of the book might not be for everyone. But if you’re interested in the subject matter, and are willing to accept Controlling Mental Chaos: Harnessing the Power of the Creative Mind on its own terms – it’ll be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. There’s nothing that says what a nonfiction, leadership and business advice book is supposed to be. But I would say Dr. Pineda’s book qualifies as one of the prime examples of what it can be.
Garth Thomas