Summary: Mind Hacking by Sir John Hargrave

Introduction: Mind Hacking by Sir John Hargrave

When you think about the phrase mind hacking, what images come to mind? When I noticed the book, Mind Hacking, I grabbed it and headed to the checkout. I did not read the book description. In the past,  I did that a lot. I like the element of surprise, sometimes it works and sometimes it does not.

For years now, I have had an interest in learning and memory. I am always interested in hacks that will allow me to do things faster without compromising quality. After reading Mind Hacking by Sir John Hargrave, I conclude that it was exactly what I needed when I needed it.

I am targeting my blog this year because I want professionals between the ages of 25 to 49 years to get the most from reading the right books and materials, so they can accelerate their careers.

The book, Mind Hacking, is about how to focus and replace negative thoughts with more positive ones. And it is so much more as well. Mind Hacking includes exercises to help you to become more aware of what you are thinking. You become more conscious of the many unconscious interruptions you face each day while working. I completed all the exercises, and I am working my way through them again. One of the focus exercises reminded me of the Einstein Distraction Index, so I updated my post to include new information.

I cannot say it enough, but your ability to focus will allow you to be productive, getting more done in your already over-scheduled day.

Have you read?

Einstein Distraction Index: A Method of Deep Focus

How to Improve Your State of Mind: Focus Forward by Justin Byers

Hargrave uses computer analogies throughout the book. I found it refreshing and it brought back memories of my computer science days.

Content: What Mind Hacking by Sir John Hargrave is About

Briefly, Mind Hacking by John Hargrave is about programming your mind. Throughout the book, the reader completes many exercises to do that. There are three mind hacking principles.

3 Mind Hacking Principles

1. Mind Hacking is Free. You can find solutions to any problem for free. Each member of a collective can benefit from each other. Together we can invent a science of self-improvement.
2. Mind Hacking is Experimental. Conduct experiments to find out what works. Experiment on yourself to see what works and does not work for you.
3. Mind Hacking is Mastery. To master your mind is to master your life.

Hacking Process: 3 Categories

1. Analyzing
2. Imagining
3. Reprogramming

Analyze:  Check the source code of your mind. What is your mind thinking? How can you disengage from the mind movies you produce? You are not your mind.

Imagine: Imagine how to do something cool and unexpected. Remove the constraints you place around yourself to imagine the impossible.

Reprogram: Reprogram the code until you transform your life. Re-purpose the technology to create what you imagined.

Mind Hacking is divided into three sections, each of which deals with one of the hacking process – Analyzing, Imagining, and Reprogramming.

Analyzing

3 Models

1. Mind movie
2. Superuser mode
3. Metathinking

The three models help you to view the mind objectively and to increase your power of awareness.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself. How can you:

• Analyze your mind?
• Disengage from your mind movie?
• Get superuser access to your mind?
• Work on your mind, not just in your mind?

Check in with yourself to see what you are thinking – what your mind is thinking. Remember that YOU ARE NOT YOUR MIND. You can observe your mind and see it objectively. This means that you have the ability to control it. Think of your mind like a movie that plays in high definition, has surround sound, and is in 3-D IMAX format. This is powerful stuff. So how can you control what movies your mind plays? Mind hacking allows you to access the source code of your mind so you can alter it.

Think about the computer systems at your workplace, not everyone has the same level of access. Your access depends on your roles and responsibilities in the organization. But some people have superuser access, which means they can access every level. To control and alter your mind, you need to have superuser access. You can focus your mind by getting into superuser mode. You must become conscious of when you are in control of your mind. Mind Hacking has exercises that will help you to get into superuser mode.

When you are mind hacking, you are meta-thinking. That is thinking about thinking. This is a skill to develop if you want to hack your mind.

The Habit Loop

To retrain your mind, you have to make practicing the exercises a habit. The Habit Loop allows you to develop habits that are important to you. Loops help us to get things done The elements of the Habit Loop include the following:

• Choose a consistent time to work on developing the new habit.
• Choose a consistent place. Pick a place where you can practice your new habit without being disturbed.
• Choose a consistent reminder. What cue can you use to remind yourself to work on developing the habit?
• Choose a consistent reward. How will you reward yourself for working on developing the new habit?
• Be consistent. Use the same reminder and reward.
• Practice, not perfection. If you miss a day, do not give up, start again.

One of the things I really like about Mind Hacking by Sir John Hargrave is that he provides many different exercises to reach an end result. This means that you will find an activity that fits your personality. For instance, he presents a technique called the 5 Whys to get to the root cause of a problem. But he also presents another method called Worst Case Scenario that does the same thing.

When you fix your mental loops, you fix your life.

Imagining

What is your best self? Figure out what you want in your life, first in your mind. Imagine your best future. You can bring amazing things into the world. Your mind gives you the space where you can dream, develop, and refine your ideas that shape your physical world. Your imagination precedes the thing you want.

Reprogramming

In the final section of the book, you learn how to get what you imagined. The author presents a variety of activities to help you with reprogramming.

Final Thoughts: Mind Hacking by Sir John Hargrave

I recommend Mind Hacking by Sir John Hargrave. The book is now one of the best books that I have read. You have heard me say this a few times now. As I read books, I evolve as a person. I have not done this summary justice, you must read the book for yourself. And to reap the benefits that the book offers, you have to practice the exercises. It’s often been said that you have to do something for 21 days for it to become a habit. But I read somewhere that it takes 42 days. I recommend that you do the exercises beyond 21 days.

Some Books Mentioned in Mind Hacking That You May Want to Read

There are many ways that I discover interesting books to read. And one way is by paying attention to the books mentioned in books that I have enjoyed. This is a mentoring moment for you. I say this because people are always asking me for book recommendations and some ask me where I find books that I want to read.

1. The Nerdist Way
2. The 4-Hour Body
3. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
4. A Beautiful Mind
5. The Power of Habits
6. Think and Grow Rich
7. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
8. Principles: Life and Work
9. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
10. The Common Sense of Drinking
11. The E-Myth Revisited
12. Metaphysics
13. Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World.

Some Movies Mentioned in Mind Hacking That You May Want to Watch

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Matrix

A Clockwork Orange

Next Steps

Wondering what to do next, you can do all of:

1. Buy my new book, Leadership Reading: Spilling the Tea on How Top Leaders Read

2. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

3. Join the Art of Learning Membership Site

4. Download Unlock Your Genius Power Reading Tips Sheet

5. Buy me a cup of coffee!

If you want access to my Bookish Notes, please consider joining my membership site, the Art of Learning.

This post contains affiliate links and The Invisible Mentor® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support! Update: First Published in May 2017