*Cosmetic Brain Surgery: Introduction*

Welcome to Cosmetic Brain Surgery. Unlike the risky and invasive approach to self-image issues, this 'operation' requires no elaborate equipment, expensive clinics, or nasty scalpels. It inflicts no pain or scarring, and it leaves no lingering feelings of phoniness or sharp pangs of regret. You will wake up from this operation feeling vibrant, authentic, and rejuvenated, because all that Cosmetic Brain Surgery requires is a little imagination.

How does it work? During this operation you will be encouraged to creatively re-think many aspects of your existence, for example, your identity, your habits, your friendships, your intimate relationships, your culture, your personal history, your dreams, and your aspirations (to name a few). Why? Because it is in these deeper layers of who you are and not in your flesh layer that the re-shaping must take place if you truly want to be at peace with yourself.

By carefully opening and gently probing into these areas of your life, you will discover all the little hidden thoughts, feelings, and experiences that have been eroding your self-esteem and turning your self-image into an ugly stranger. You will also discover all the secret, gifted parts of yourself that have been aching to be exposed, expressed, and celebrated. By combining self-discovery with potent doses of creative thinking, you will finally possess the only tools you have ever really needed to re-design yourself into the person you have always wanted to be.

You will also find that as your self-compassion grows, your empathy for others will also increase, and your whole relationship to the world is likely to shift. Why? Because when you explore your own life in a deep and creative way, you automatically enter into the collective consciousness of everyone around you. By knowing yourself and spending time with yourself in this progressive way, you will become more synchronized with others. Your intuition will deepen, your creativity will blossom, your courage will grow, serendipity will increase, and unusual and auspicious encounters will abound. In other words, a whole new world of possibilities will be granted to you, all you have to do is let it happen.

But, before all these wonderful transformations can happen, you need to deeply embrace one key principle. Much like a Zen master, you will have to realize that the way you see yourself is a deeper reflection of the way you see everything else. Let's use the principles of quantum physics to shed some light on this issue. Relax, it's easy to understand, and besides, you are brilliant, remember? Let me explain.


At the quantum level the true substance of the universe seems to be made of either pure, physical matter, more commonly known as objects; or made of flowing, interrelated actions,generally described as events. Depending on your perspective of the universe (the tools and methods you use to view it) it will appear to be made of one or the other, either objects or events. With this theory in mind, I invite you to apply this apt metaphor to the way you perceive yourself.

If you want to be an 'object,' you can continue to see yourself as a finite product in a material world. You can continue to see yourself as an isolated and faulty object that needs fixing in order to belong, rather than seeing yourself as a remarkable event participating within millions of other miraculous events within the universe.

If you want to be an 'event,' you can begin by seeing yourself as a dynamic, shifting series of actions, rather than seeing yourself as a static form. For example, most authentically-creative people are events, and their sense of self is derived from their connection to the wonder and flow of a greater creative energy in the world. Truly creative people are not objects, nor do they want to be. They are active producers and their inspiration comes from tapping into and emulating a greater creative force--not from imitating static perfection. Although they create beautiful or evocative objects, most realize that their creativity is a continual process--not a final product. They understand that life itself is a massively divine event, and they are a simply echoing this process in a micro-dimensional way.


Events come and go. They have high points and low points. They inspire us, persuade us, and move us into new territory. Events are sublime specifically because of their impermanence. They represent transformation, risk, and revolution. Objects, on the other hand, must be locked away or forever guarded to stay the same. While they may look precious and perfect behind a hard, glass case, they remain untouchable, cold, and dead.

With this said, these ideas are designed to help you become less of an object and more of an event in all areas of your life. By reading and engaging in the creative exercises, you will be shining a brilliant light into all the hidden areas of your life. There you will discover someone that has been waiting for your attention all along, a much deeper self, full of curiosity, courage, and originality beyond your wildest dreams. I welcome you to find yourself now..."

Barbara Bernath
All Rights Reserved


What you are reading is from a book I have been working on for the past 10 years. The underpinnings of this work stems from my Master's Thesis, which was called "Body Of Evidence; Using Art Therapy To Uncover The Underlying Issues of Anorexia and Bulimia." After writing my thesis, establishing a private practice as a creative therapist, and turning my attention back to the mainstream world, I realized that people everywhere (not just those afflicted with eating disorders) were having trouble accessing their creativity and living happily ever after in their bodies. Therefore, I decided to write 'Cosmetic Brain Surgery' as an upbeat remedy to the current body-altering craze that is happening everywhere. Although I have written it mostly for women, it applies to men as well. If you are looking for a new perspective, read on...

For information, inspiration, and contact info, please go to http://www.barbarabernath.blogspot.com/