Who Switched Off My Brain?: Controlling Toxic Thoughts and Emotions [Englisch] [Gebundene Ausgabe]

One of the most important books on how our thoughts chemicially effect our behavior, personal diseases and the healing process. Dr. Leaf confirms through her accurate and solid neuroscience research what the Holy Bible has said for over 3,000 years "As a man or woman thinks, allowing their spirit, mind, will, emotions and body to absorb those thoughts and images, to that degree they will become (in their spirit, soul and body) what they have thought about". A must read book for serious and open-minded students and professionals.

Martin W. Oliver II Ph.D.
specializing in human behavior and chemistry
Meridian, Mississippi

I'm so glad to see that science is beginning to catch up and agree with the Word of God. I heard about this book from a ministry associate of mine and read a borrowed copy and have just ordered one for my own. What Dr. Leaf teaches in this book is exactly what the Bible has taught for centuries--that our lives are for the most part a byproduct of the way we think, what we hear, what we say, and what we believe. Sadly, these principles have been "spiritualized" in the modern church that focuses more upon religious rituals and outward discipline rather than the practical aspects of God's Word. One may accuse the writer of promoting the "power of positive thinking" but a very quick study of God's Word will reveal these things to be true.

One reviewer mentioned there were no "practical methods" to implement these truths. I disagree, but the Word of God has an abundance of information on this subject. In a nutshell, if a person focuses his/her mind and affections on God and His infinite goodness, the byproduct of this is life and peace. The world around you may be in utter chaos, but within your heart the peace of God allows you to be victorious over any and all situations--including sickness and disease. One may assert that a person cannot be mindful of God throughout our busy days, but you can. It's true that we worry about things and still are able to accomplish daily tasks, so why not simply "worry" about the things of God. All worry is is meditating on the wrong thing. This is what it means to "pray without ceasing..."

"Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." [Romans 12:2]
"As he thinks in his heart so is he." [Proverbs 23:7]
"You (God) will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you." [Isaiah 26:3]
"For to be carnally minded is death, but to spiritually minded is life and peace." [Romans 8:6]
(Read also Joshua 1:8; Philippians 4:6-9; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Colossians 3:1-4)
Jesus said, "According to your faith be it unto you." [Matthew 9:29] and "Go your way, and as you have believed so be it done unto you." [Matthew 8:13] The Lord also said, "For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned." [Matthew 12:37] and "Take heed what you hear..." [Mark 4:24]
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and them that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." [Proverbs 18:21]
Read also James 3:1-6 to see that the tongue (words) control and influence our bodies in the same way a bridle is used to control a horse, and a helm is used to steer a ship. (also 2 Corinthians 4:13)

One might say, "I don't believe this." Well, it won't work for you because a person's life is based on what they believe. Not believing in this simply means that a person is believing something else--contrary to what God's Word says.

What makes this book great is that it doesn't speak "religious" language that turns off secular and non-Christian people. I pray for the day that the academic and scientific world will finally admit that what the Bible teaches is true.

By the Grace of God I Am What I Am (Study Guide & Workbook)

The first half of this book is very technically written. That is not the problem with it even though it is directed at laymen. You can get through the technical writing. The problem is that the book is written very sternly. There is the continual implication that if you do not control your thoughts and soon, you will give yourself diseases and worse. So the powerful punch of this book is to admit you make yourself sick by a negative thoughtlife, the majority of which you are not even aware of and that you must change, post haste. The author comes off hardline against any drug use, which is impractical and creates self condemnation for those who have used and may continue to depend upon prescriptions to treat brain chemical imbalances. She states that the brain can be retrained to think properly and the body will subsequently produce all the chemicals it needs to be its own happiness and peace drugstore.

Excellent! We all want that desperately. However, life gets in the way. This mortal corruption gets in the way. The environment does impact us whether we think about it or not. I wonder how these power thinkers will power their way through menopause and midlife transition if their brain chemicals go to heck in a handbasket. I tried power thinking my way through it and failed miserably. My anxiety shot level through the ceiling. It's possible that there may be physical imbalances not created by the human thought process - you may not be able to avoid brain chemical imbalance in puberty or menopause by positive thinking. Not because the positive thinking does not work but because we are imperfect living in a toxic environment. I believe there are some brain chemical imbalances that may be physiological just based upon personal experience. These may require external aids IMHO. Furthermore, I am convinced that this body and mind, which God designed and created, He can certainly fix...any part of it at any time as He sees fit. The author is a believer and this theme will recur during the course of the book.

I suspect that most people reading the book are already fearful and want to learn HOW to control their thoughtlife with proven practical help. The eager reader will try to zip through to the end of the book to find the answers but unfortunately, they are not really there. The suggestions given are simply to block the bad thoughts and little practical instruction is given on how to create both new and positive thoughts leading to memory overlay that will hopefully, end the tormented negative thinkers misery and by implication, save his or her life. For this, one might choose to go through cognitive feedback therapy with a professional.

Lots of good technical information that needs updating here, as the materials listed as sources date back to the 70's. But as far as finding answers to the perplexing issues of how to recognize and take charge of your thought life, they are not sufficiently detailed here to create a program for daily progress and eventual deliverance from negative thinking. There are suggestions for improvement but not instructions. This book would be better used for research than self help as it reminds me somewhat of a Masters thesis.

*I have seen the author on TV recently and she is offering more materials that may pick up where this book leaves off. I don't know if they will prove more useful or not to the layman. I have not seen them. If she has come up with a more instructional program for practical laymen use, I would certainly enjoy reviewing it.