Customer Reviews

How to Heal Toxic Thoughts: Simple Tools for Personal Transformation

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Author Sandra Ingerman is a therapist and self-described shaman practitioner. In her introduction to this book, she explains that shamanism is an ancient form of spiritual healing, and she talks about how shamans help address what is going on "beyond the skin," or at the unseen level of the spirit. More simply put, Ingerman suggests that instead of appropriately expressing our negative energy (eg, making a statement such as "I am frustrated"), we frequently and harmfully project our negative energy out into the world. Therefore, her book strives to teach readers to change their patterns of reaction and to transform their negative energy into something more positive.

Although the above might sound overly mystical or new-agey, in reality, Ingerman's book is quite practical. It is filled with helpful exercises, many of which are similar to techniques I use in my work as a psychologist. The very first exercise involves simply breathing deeply into the abdomen (aka diaphragmatic breathing) and reflecting; other breathing exercises utilize conscious breathing to attain calm or balance. Many of the exercises also employ various visualization techniques, but again, these are presented in a fairly concrete, straightforward manner (eg, imagining a place in nature that you love). Ingerman incorporates additional modalities as well, from those that are more verbally-oriented (words of energy, decree statements, and journal writing) to those that are a bit more abstract (various protective techniques used to shield yourself from negativism in a toxic world).

One of the things I liked best about this book was Ingerman's emphasis on choice--ie, although things happen to us that we cannot control, we can ALWAYS choose how we respond to the events around us. This is something I frequently discuss with my clients, as acknowledging choice can go a long way towards reducing depression, anxiety, and hopelessness. Although some people might shy away from the somewhat spiritual nature of this book, it is a well-done self-help guide offering clear, simple guidelines for moving towards greater positive well-being in your life, and it is likely to appeal to a wide audience.

Sandra Ingerman lays before us a banquet of methods to renew, enlarge, and explore the boundaries of our potential in body, mind and spirit in "How to Heal Toxic Thoughts." It is so filled with ideas for change that work, and is so imbued with a positive vitality, that no matter what your state of mind is when you start this splendid book, you will find it transforming. Ingerman gives you exercises to implement her methods that are valuable, and I especially appreciate the plant experiment on page 28, which makes people "...become more conscious of the energy behind their thoughts and emotions throughout the day." The words we use, our intentions, and our reactions, all have an enormous impact not only for us, but those we interact with and think about, and Ingerman gives us step by step instructions to make the necessary changes within and without.

How do I know Ingerman's ideas for change work? Because I have used similar processes over many years to heal my mind and soul, and here they all are, in one superb little book. And no matter how far one has come in achieving inner peace and surrounding oneself with positive energies, there is always higher ground to go to, and more growth and improvement to be made. I am sure that wherever you are in your spiritual journey, you will find at least one life-changing jewel in this book. For me it was in Chapter 3, where I learned to "breathe through my heart." Another beautiful visualization for me was on page 93, where it is told how the Native American Chumash tribe "surround their energy in a blue protective egg."

This small but mighty book has a lovely layout, nice readable print, and good quality paper. Sandra Ingerman is a marriage and family therapist living in New Mexico, and has written several other books which I look forward to reading. May she always walk in beauty!

"It is who we become, not what we do, that changes the world" (page 107).

What I love about Sandra Ingerman's books is that she always gives us ways to go about making the changes we need. We are not left hanging with a problem with no solution . Her sugestions are so clear and make so much sense. All her suggestions are doable and sustainable . This is what the world needs now solutions that clear out the negative sludge and replace it with positive action. I loved this book and I am passing it on .

This book is an effective and with immediate results method . You can open the book at any part , read it and at the moment you apply the part you read you see positive results right away (easy and quick to test and convalidate)

It's a method that teaches you how to act in certain moments of your life and train you for those moments that will come. A shamanic , scientifically based , approach,toward Life !!.

Quick and compact guide that only requires from you to have a basic level of open mind and it also gives you a lot of general knowledge .

Recommended at least to who has a little bit of an open mind . . . !

This book is a pleasure to read and is written in a manner that allows one to retain and utilize what they've read. I recommend it to anyone who is serious about changing their life.

Louise Kripal

A less-toxic reader.

Sandra Ingerman is not only a respected therapist who has incorporated the secrets and techniques of shaman practice into a method of guiding her followers to a healthier way to influence not only the inner self but also to alter the world around the self (as if that wouldn't be calling card enough!), but she is also a fine writer. In this small in size but large in value book HOW TO HEAL TOXIC THOUGHTS: Simple Tools for Personal Transformation, Ingerman very clearly defines her approach to healing both the individual and those in contact with the individual. Her approach is so very clear and sound that few who take the time and energy to participate in her recommendations will be significantly affected by this guide.

Basing her practice of the shaman she dates the beginnings to alchemy, and not the usual 'turning lead into gold' meaning of the word, but instead the true initial meaning to 'lighten the soul's darkness - to transform the energy you project in the world into love and light that can heal you and others'. She does not preach to the reader but rather enlightens with exercises that are easy to follow, easy to make a part of daily meditation. And with this practical information succinctly described, she constantly reminds the reader of the more poetic aspects of healing she incorporates. "We have forgotten what indigenous peoples and quantum physicists know: that we are not independent from the body we belong to, the web of life that connects us all.'

This remains an age of publication of countless self-help books. Some mend, some improve aspects of life, but this little tome by Sandra Ingerman is one that truly affects our perception of our place in this world and the accompanying obligation to make it better. Healthy food for thought and change at a time we most need it. Grady Harp, November 07

Sandra Ingerman, known for her work in Soul Retrieval, offers us the opportunity to work deeply with the East, the home of the mind and the air element, in How to Heal Toxic Thoughts, Simple Tools for Personal Transformation .

Ingerman sets the stage for the book by describing the relationship between our inner and outer worlds. "If we look at today's environmental pollution from a spiritual perspective, we see that the pollution in our outer world is a reflection of the pollution in our inner world. This means that the toxic thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and beliefs are being reflected back to us by the pollution we see in our water, air, and earth."

In the book, Ingerman explains, with simplicity, the core essence of our nature from our stimulus/response patterns, to the impacts of the words we use. She offers numerous exercises to identify our triggers, release from the reactive pattern, see ourselves from a non-judging place of truth, work with our words, among so much more. This book is remarkable in the number of teachings and exercises offered in a condensed and easily accessible place.

Sandra is a psychologist, practicing shaman, teacher and author. I have all her books (most are autographed) and have personally studied with her. She has always talked about our thoughts and emotions and how they affect others as well as how they affect us.

Now she has written a book to help us deal with our toxic energy. This is a great little book, that is easy to read and understand, no matter what spiritual level you are at. The book is filled with step by step exercises to first help one become aware of their thoughts and energy as well as information on how to transmute our energy from toxic to healing.

This book is a must have for any bookshelf, the kind of book one comes back to again and again to repeat some of the exercises as life presents new challenges for us to deal with.

Excellent book, a must read for dealing with life today! This book gives you the tools not only to see why you are getting angry(beyond the dork that set you off) but moreover, the tools to see it coming on and how to stop it and turn it into good! Really!

This book is easy to read and lays out a practical path to help you on a path to change your thought patterns. The title sums it well, "simple tools for personal transformation"