Recent advances in brain science have upended that popular myth that you can’t teach new tricks to an old dog. Turns out, our brains are constantly changing for the duration of our lives.

They call it "plasticity," this wonderful ability that the brain has for adapting to whatever conditions present themselves. There’s no question that we should be optimistic and encouraged by what we can achieve with a few guidelines and a little persistence.

Heal Your Mind, Rewire Your Brain by Patt Lind-Kyle takes a slightly different approach from the science-based books I’ve read to date. Yes, she does provide details of the studies conducted, but only as much as is needed to understand the points she makes here. Lind-Kyle’s focus is on the connection between the mind and the brain. "...the mind is what the brain does... It is the mind and brain together that produces conscious awareness," she writes.

Lind-Kyle advises meditation as the most effective method for directing the mind-brain toward achieving better mental and physical health, and studies of long-time meditators back up her opinion. Meditation has long been considered an esoteric practice, perhaps a bit too New Agey for some to consider a legitimate means for reducing stress, discovering inner peace, or healing the body. Meditation in its purest form isn’t meant for any of those things, of course, but the fact exists that it has a powerful influence over how we perceive and react to ordinary events. For those who remain skeptical, Lind-Kyle frequently uses the term "mind-training" rather than "meditation," and the former is a better description of what she teaches in Heal Your Mind, Rewire Your Brain.

Lost in our multi-tasking culture, a quiet mind is something most of us have never experienced. In fact, some are actually frightened of being alone with the mind. As the author points out, "...most people find solitude very upsetting and scary." With this in mind, Lind-Kyle approaches mind-training from a different direction, including Enneagram patterns and brain waves (beta, alpha, delta, and theta) rather than traditional sitting practice, to make her case.

Drawing on a wide variety of techniques and studies, Lind-Kyle’s Heal Your Mind, Rewire Your Brain is a readable and convincing work that offers a unique perspective on what can be achieved through mind-training. Beginners may be surprised to learn just how pleasant and productive a little quiet time can be; those who’ve already made meditation a regular part of their lives will find here some new techniques to enhance practice. In addition to these benefits, Heal Your Mind, Rewire Your Brain contains enough information and guidance to keep readers coming back to it over and over again for many years.