Maxwell Maltz

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Maxwell Maltz (1899-1975) was a cosmetic surgeon who developed Psycho-Cybernetics, a system of ideas that can be employed to improve one's self image and in turn lead a more successful and fulfilling life. He wrote several books, among which Psycho-Cybernetics was a long-time bestseller that undoubtedly influenced many subsequent self-help teachers.

In the preface to his book, Maltz writes: "I, myself, take no credit for the breakthrough, other than the recognition of it." (Preface VIII)

PSYCHO-CYBERNETICS--A New Way to GET MORE LIVING OUT OF LIFE, by Maxwell Maltz, M.D., F.I.C.S. (plastic surgeon) was first published in 1960 by Prentice-Hall.

The pocket book edition was published in 1969. In the early 1970s, I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Dr. Maltz when he visited and gave a lecture in Toronto. I was impressed. Thus, I incorporated his basic philosophy in the sermons I preached at Willowdale United Church, where I was the minister from 1966-1994. When I retired from the active pastoral ministry I became re-directed--a term I prefer to being retired--as a writer an advocate of holism--the totally integrated approach to achieving our full human potential.

His teachings have been used, directly, by thousands of successful individuals for decades in achieving their dreams as they increase their belief in themselves. This allows them to use the Automatic Success Mechanism, a term Maltz created, to achieve their dreams. It is Maltz's view that one must have an accurate and positive view of their self before setting their goals. If it does so in the opposite way the individual will continue to get stuck in the same patterns of limiting beliefs.

His ideas focus on visualizing your goals--a simple idea which some cognitive-science research, in the area of priming, has validated under certain conditions.

He believed that self-image is the corner stone of all the changes which take place in a person. If one's self image is unhealthy, or faulty, all his efforts will end in failure.

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