The Code of the Extraordinary Mind Summary I Vishen Lakhiani

Book – The Code of the Extraordinary Mind

Author – Vishen Lakhiani

Genre – Self-Help

Published in – 2016

“We constantly upgrade our electronic models and systems, but many live with outdated beliefs and habits without even knowing it. When you swap out old, expired models and systems that limit you, you’re elevating your consciousness and opening the path to extraordinary living.”.

Vishen explains what it means to have an extraordinary life. It does not happen by chance, through hard work, or a unique set of skills. There is a methodology that anyone can employ—a code you can learn—that will catapult your life into the realm of the extraordinary.

About the Book –

This is one of the most well-rounded books I have read recently. The book will help you examine your existing hardware (beliefs) and software (Living system). It will encourage you to change what is not working.

The book is divided into four parts. 1) Living in Culturescape (Identifying our existing system), 2) The Awakening (The power to choose), 3) Re-coding Yourself (Transforming the inner world), 4) Becoming Extraordinary (Changing the world).

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Part I – Living the Culturescape (How The World Around You Shaped You)

Everything around you that you call life was made up of people no more intelligent than you. And you can change it. You can influence it. Once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again. – Steve Jobs

1) Absolute Truth v/s Relative Truth–

• Absolute Truth is the physical world. This world contains things we’re all likely to agree on, like ‘fire is hot.’

• Relative Truth is the mental world of ideas, constructs, concepts, models, myths, patterns, and rules we’ve developed. This is where concepts such as marriage, money, religion, and laws reside. This is relative Truth because these ideas are valid only for a particular culture or tribe.

• We inherit and transmit behaviors, emotions, beliefs, and religions not through rational choice but through contagion. Ideas, memes, and culture are meant to evolve and change; we are best served when we question them.
  

2) Questioning the Brules (Bulls**t Rules)

Vishen encourages taking inventory of our beliefs and reconsidering them. Here are a few to consider –

You may question relative truths and liberate yourselves if you find no satisfying answer over and above: “My family/culture/people have always done it this way.”

• The College Brule – One must need a degree to succeed in life. Even though it is good to have a degree, considering the time we are living right now, there are ample opportunities for self-educating and pursuing the work we choose.

• The Religion Brule – I like to think about it this way. One can be spiritual without being religious or sticking to one religion. A called religious person may not be good. However, a reasonable person will be spiritual.

• The Work Brule – You will likely be more engaged and committed when you aren’t suffering for your paycheck. How long can you afford not to like what you do, given that most of us spend most of our waking hours at work?

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Part II – The Awakening (The power to choose your version of the world)

As you recognize and work on Brules and let go of those holding you back, you feel awareness within and begin to design your version of the world, or rather, how you perceive the world.

You decide what to let in or reject. You’re engineering how your consciousness is shaped and influenced.

1) Consciousness Engineering (An Operating System for Human Mind)

Vishen divides consciousness engineering into two parts –

• Your Model of Reality (Your Hardware) – What you think is what you get. All of us can decide what models of reality we’ll adopt. You get to choose. (Our beliefs are our hardware).

• Your Systems for Living (Your software) – Your habits, or systems for living, are how you put your models of reality into practice. The trick is to recognize what methods you’re running and do enough self-checks to identify the ones you need to upgrade quickly.

• Look at learning anything new in two parts. It is either a model of reality or a system of living. You are either learning new beliefs or learning new techniques. The new model, let’s say, ‘belief about money’ is a ‘different way of earning money.’.

2) Rewriting Model of Reality –

Our beliefs are like unquestioned commands, telling us how things are, what’s possible and impossible, and what we can and cannot do. They shape every action, thought, and feeling we experience. As a result, changing our belief systems is central to making any real and lasting change in our lives. – Tony Robbins

You will encounter three central learnings as you go through this book section.

• LESSON 1: Our models of reality lie below the surface. Often, we do not realize we have them until some intervention or contemplative practice makes us aware.

• LESSON 2: We often carry disempowering models of reality that we inherited as far back as childhood.

• LESSON 3: When you replace disempowering models of reality with empowering ones, tremendous changes can occur in your life rapidly.

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Part III – Re-coding yourself (Transforming your inner world)

Vishen explains the concept of bending reality, i.e., being happy in the NOW while holding the vision for the future.

1) Bending Reality –

• Stop postponing your happiness. Be happy now. Your thoughts and beliefs create your reality, which will be good only when your present state is joyful.

• Have big goals—but don’t tie your happiness to your goals. You must be happy before you attain them.

• There’s no point dwelling in the past and letting it define you or getting lost in anxiety about the future. In the present moment, you’re in the field of possibility. How you engage with the present moment will direct your life.

2) Three Systems of Discipline –

• Discipline System 1 – The Power of Gratitude – switch your gap from present to future to past to past-present (reverse gap). Look at how far you have come instead of how far you have to go, and you will have immense gratitude and confidence to move forward.

• Blissipline System 2 – Forgiveness – for anyone who’s looking to master Blissipline, forgiveness is critical. Forgiveness process – Prepare, list people, and pick one. 1. Set the scene, 2. Feel the anger and pain. 3. Forgive into love.

• Discipline System 3 – The Practice of Giving – As they say, Give what you want to receive. Be a happy giver. Serve and love more and more people than you can. There is immense power in giving, and receiving is a byproduct of it.

3) Three Most Important Questions to Ask while Setting Goals –

• What experiences do you want to have in your lifetime? – If time and money were no object and I did not have to seek anyone’s permission, what kinds of experiences would my soul crave?

• How do you want to grow? To have the experiences above, how do I have to grow? What sort of man or woman do I need to evolve into?

• How do you want to contribute? If I have the experiences above and have grown in these remarkable ways, how can I give back to the world?

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Part IV – Becoming Extraordinary (Changing the World)

We don’t have to choose between Buddha or badass. The idea is to be both. Indeed, sometimes, the only way to be effective at one is to master the other.

Be Unf*ckwithable –

Extraordinary minds do not need to seek validation from outside opinion or through the attainment of goals. Instead, they are genuinely at peace with themselves and the world around them. They live fearlessly, immune to criticism or praise, and fueled by their inner happiness and self-love.

Two components of being Unf*ckwithable –

1) Self-Fueled Goals –

• A good end goal is something you have absolute control over. No object or person can take it away from you.

• A gA good example of love’s end goal is “To be consistently surrounded by love.” Relationship with children – instead of “to be close to my children,” set “To be the best parent I can be.”

2) Realizing You Are Enough –

• I am not enough is the most significant disease affecting humanity.

• Nothing is more attractive than a person who loves themself so profoundly that their vivacious energy and love spill over to others and the world.

3) Exercises for Becoming Unf*ckwithable –

• Exercise 1 – The person in the mirror (for creating self-love) Look yourself in the mirror and affirm, “I love you.”

• Exercise 2 – Self gratitude (For appreciating yourself) – Appreciate yourself more often. Count the good things you did, the good encounters, and the good things you learned.

• Exercise 3 – becoming present (to remove sudden fear and anxiety) – Fear and anxiety vanish when you pull yourself back into the present. In the present, you feel empowered to act on what is to be done rather than worrying.

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I have also created a video of a few quotes from the book – I hope you like it. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel – Myread4change.

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Conclusion –

You will love or hate this book based on your state of mind. I urge you to read the reader with an open mind and consider applying the suggestions in the book, and you will see this significant difference in your life.

If you like this book, you may also like The Master Key System.

I would appreciate your comments on this post in the comment box.

Thank you for reading, and I wish you an Extraordinary Life.

Muzammil