People say “in your dreams” when they want to imply that something isn’t going to happen. But according to this expert, dreams are the best place to start when it comes to making goals a reality.
Dr. James Doty is a world-renowned neurosurgeon, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and New York Times bestselling author. He is also the founder and director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University. I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with him to talk about the power of manifestation as detailed in his latest book, ‘Mind Magic‘.
A Little Background On Dr. James Doty
Dr. James Doty is a guy who knows what he’s talking about – not just through professional qualifications, but personal experience as well. Born into the less-than-ideal circumstances of having an alcoholic father and a mother who suffered from both stroke-induced physical disabilities and mental health issues, Doty’s childhood was far from easy. The term ‘adverse childhood experiences’ doesn’t even scratch the surface of what it’s like for people with a background like his. Imagine coming into the world with an already stacked deck against you, and then having to navigate through life with little support or guidance.
But one person can – and in James’ case, did – make all the difference. He recalls walking into a magic shop at the age of 12 and encountering a woman who changed his entire perspective. She recognized something special in this young, troubled boy and took the time to talk to him, ask him questions, and ultimately make him an offer.
“‘Listen, I’m here for another six weeks. If you show up every day, I’ll teach you something I think that could really help you.'” He recounts her saying. Whatever that lesson was didn’t immediately interest James as much as the free chocolate chip cookies and company that would come with it.
Sure enough, he showed up every day to meet with her. The following month and a half were transformative for James. He discovered the disciplines of meditation and manifesting, which, after enough practice, ended up changing the trajectory of his life.
Making Something Out of Manifestation
Self-compassion and open-mindedness were key elements in James Doty’s perspective on life as a young teenager and adult. While circumstances predisposed him to give up before even starting, those lessons in the magic shop suggested that not everything was predetermined. His life changed when he opened his heart and head to the possibility of something better.
“I decided to become a neurosurgeon. I became a professor at Stanford in the School of Medicine, and then a successful entrepreneur. I was CEO of a company that went public for 1. 3 billion,” James says.
Things certainly haven’t been easy – the dot com boom upheaved that aforementioned business and resulted in massive financial losses in the early 2000s. Yet the underlying mindset that got him to that point prevailed. In fact, the experience only enriched his belief in the power of manifesting. After losing over $80 Million in a painfully ironic period of six weeks, James was forced to reflect on his journey from the bottom to the top, and what would actually make him happy.
Spoiler alert: it wasn’t money. Or any kind of extrinsic reward, for that matter.
“I realized that all of my actions had been focused on me,” He says, before going on to explain why that strategy resulted in feelings of fulfillment. “[I had a] mistaken belief that getting those things would make me happy and I wanted this external affirmation that would make me feel whole.”
The Neuroscience of Manifestation
Manifestation, the idea that we can will our desires into existence, has been a topic of fascination for centuries. Dr. Doty has spent his entire career studying the scientific basis behind the concept and has found that there is indeed a neurological explanation for why Buddhist practices like these are so respected.
Our brain is constantly creating neural connections based on our thoughts, emotions, and experiences. When we focus intently on something, whether it’s exercising or manifesting our desires, these neural connections become stronger and more prominent. Therefore, when we focus our thoughts and energy on a particular goal or desire, the brain can actually rewire itself to take action toward making it a reality.
Manifesting the Right Things
James is careful to emphasize the fact that not all forms of manifestation are worthwhile or healthy. His first stint – the journey from withdrawn kid to respected doctor and CEO – was defined by feelings of misery.
Western capitalist society promotes the narrative that monetary and social status equates with happiness. Yet, not mansions, cars, or millions of dollars could fill this definition of success’ inner void.
The key, it turns out, lies in service to others. As the Dalai Lama said, “If you want to make others happy, be compassionate. If you want to make yourself happy, be compassionate.” And he couldn’t have been more correct in James’ case – or a better first investor for James’ new passion project, Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). It studies the scientific connection between doing good and feeling good.
“When you care for others, it has a very positive, positive effect on you. Your reward and pleasure centers are stimulated and your physiology works at its best, which then equates to a deep sense of meaning and purpose,” James explains.
Hopefully, my discussion with Dr. James Doty on the power of compassion has opened your eyes to a new way of achieving success and happiness. It is easy to get caught up in the rat race of chasing material possessions and societal status, but true fulfillment comes from serving others.
Of course, we would both much rather you read about his teachings rather than just listen. James’ latest book, ‘Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything,’ came out on May 7th and is absolutely worth checking out.
Enjoy!
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