Promotional Interview with Ronald Alexander PhD
I had the opportunity to interview Ronald Alexander, PhD. He is the author of Wise Mind, Open Mind and I asked him about his practice, his background and his book.
First, I’ll share a little background – Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. is the author of the widely acclaimed book, Wise Mind, Open Mind: Finding Purpose and Meaning in Times of Crisis, Loss, and Change. He is the Executive Director of the OpenMind Training® Institute, practices mindfulness-based mind-body psychotherapy and leadership coaching in Santa Monica, CA for individuals and corporate clients. He teaches personal and clinical training groups for professionals in Integral Psychotherapy, Ericksonian mind-body healing therapies, mindfulness meditation, and positive psychology nationally and internationally since 1970. (www.openmindtraining.com) For more details about Ronald Alexander, PhD – visit http://bookpromotionservices.com/2010/09/08/ronald-alexander-phd/
About Wise Mind, Open Mind: Finding Purpose and Meaning in Times of Crisis, Loss & Change – In his groundbreaking book, Wise Mind, Open Mind pioneering psychotherapist, Dr. Ronald Alexander shares his innovative program for using mindfulness meditation, creative thinking, and positive psychology to transform times of crisis or change into opportunities for greater personal awareness, clarity, and creativity. His original three-step plan includes, learning to let go of resistance to change, learning to tune in to your soul’s deep wisdom or core creativity; and then learning how to move forward based on your newly acquired insight. For more details about the contents of Wise Mind, Open Mind, visit http://bookpromotionservices.com/2010/09/08/wise-mind-open-mind/.
Nikki Leigh – Where you are from and where are you now?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – I was born in Boston, MA and am now living in Los Angeles, CA
Nikki Leigh – How did you get started writing?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – I’ve been writing throughout my career as a psychotherapist with the publishing of twelve papers in professional publications as well as my professional and personal training programs.
Nikki Leigh – What do you do when you are not writing?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – I am a licensed psychotherapist, leadership consultant and clinical trainer as well as the Executive Director of the OpenMind Training® Institute in Santa Monica, a leading edge organization that offers personal and professional training programs in integrative mind-body therapies, transformational leadership, and mindfulness.
Nikki Leigh – What would readers like to know about you?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – I had a very wise mentor in college who taught me to meditate instead of using pharmaceutical drugs to help with some personal issues. After receiving my doctorate in Humanistic Existential Psychology from Ryokan College, I did 12 years of post doctoral training and education in the fields of family therapy, Integrative Mind-Body therapies, Ericksonian hypnosis, somatic psychotherapy and Gestalt therapy. In addition to my traditional training my meditation and yoga practice had sparked a keen interest in eastern philosophy. In order to fully explore this area of mind state I made many extensive trips to Asia and India where I studied Theravada Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism and Vedic (Non Dual) approaches. Through all this extensive research and studies, I developed my Mindfulness Meditation technique that I integrated into my private psychotherapy practice as well as my clinical trainings and workshops.
Nikki Leigh – What inspired your first book?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – I felt passionate about providing a map for alleviating pain and suffering and help people make positive transformations in their lives. I wanted to bring something fresh and original to readers who are searching for meaning and purpose in these painful times of personal, economic, and psychological change.
Nikki Leigh – How many books have you written and what is the genre?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – Wise Mind, Open Mind is my first book and it is self help and spiritual.
Nikki Leigh – Why are you specially qualified to write about this topic?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – I have been a leading pioneer in the fields of Somatic Psychotherapy, Holistic Psychology, Mindfulness, Leadership Coaching, Integrative and Behavioral Medicine since 1970. I am a long time extension faculty member of the U.C.L.A. Departments of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Entertainment and a lecturer in the David Geffen School of Medicine as well as an adjunct faculty member at Pacifica Graduate Institute and Pepperdine Universities. I am also an associate member of the American Psychological Association, a clinical member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and a Diplomate in professional psychotherapy in the International Academy of Behavioral Medicine, Counseling and Psychotherapy and the American Psychotherapy Association.
Nikki Leigh – How do you manage to keep yourself focused and on track when you’re writing a book?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – I practice what I teach as I found that by maintaining my mindfulness meditation practice it helped me to keep focused and on track while I was writing my book.
Nikki Leigh – Do you write to make money, for the love of writing or both?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – Of course we all need to make a living but we also need to consider being in service, or seva, as we say in Sanskrit. At every step of the way you need to be helpful in some shape or form, whether it’s to somebody who can’t afford to see you or someone whose child has died. I think it’s important to see that we are all in this life together, it’s not about acquiring more stuff or taking care of what I have, but it’s about actively, in a social, political, spiritual way, contributing to the whole thing.
Think globally but act locally; act locally but then go and contribute globally. Seva helps to create meditation and compassion in action. It’s not enough to just sit on your cushion. In some paths it’s Okay to just spend your life at a monastery meditating for your own awakening because that will have a positive impact on the entire awakening of the world.
Nikki Leigh – What are some unique methods of marketing you have used? Which were the most successful?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – Today there are an extraordinary number of avenues available to market ones book including Social Networking such as Facebook and Twitter, publicity, blogging, email campaigns, newsletters, bookstore talks, keynote presentations, workshops and training classes. What I enjoy the most is being able to connect with potential readers as this allows them to better understand the passion that I have for my techniques and my commitment to help them.
Nikki Leigh – Do you sell through a website? If so, what’s the address? If not, why not?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – Readers can connect on my website at http://www.ronaldalexander.com/books.html.
Nikki Leigh – Where can people order your books?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – My book is in print and sold through Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, NewHarbinger.com and fine booksellers everywhere. Readers can connect with these outlets through my website at http://www.ronaldalexander.com/books.html.
Nikki Leigh – Will you write more books?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – Yes, I have two or three books in mind that deal with integrating mindfulness, creativity and leadership as well as mindfulness mind-body psychotherapies
Nikki Leigh – What do you have in the works now?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – At the moment gathering notes on creativity, leadership and communication for a book that will especially help woman in the workplace and in their relationships. I love the freedom to speak my ideas and enjoy the process of developing them into final prose.
Nikki Leigh – What does the future hold for you and your books?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – Well of course I would love to have a best seller but as well I have two books in mind on leadership and Mind-Body Psychotherapies that would be more technical and may not sell as well but it’s a labor of love…
Nikki Leigh – What was the most successful thing you did to promote your books?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – I found that television and print interviews along with blogging are effective ways to promote my book. As well I participate in several email book campaigns that other authors are organizing to promote the release of their new books.
Nikki Leigh – What was the least successful thing you did to promote your books?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – I discovered that it was important to be selective of all the Blog Radio shows that are available as many of them were not an effective outlet to sell books.
Nikki Leigh – What makes this book special to you?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – I have been helping people transform their times of crisis into opportunities for greater personal awareness, clarity and creativity for over thirty years now. Writing Wise Mind, Open Mind allowed me to share with readers the techniques that I have developed to help them alleviate their pain and suffering and bring meaning and purpose in these painful times of personal, economic, and psychological change.
The book focuses on the building of “mindstrength” — the ability to very quickly and easily shift out of a reactive mode and become fully present in the moment, experiencing the full force of your emotions even as you recognize that they are temporary and will soon dissipate. Through my unique three step process that combines mindfulness mediation, creative thinking and positive psychology readers will learn how to let go of their past; tune into the present and their core creativity; and move forward with passion and purpose.
Nikki Leigh – What sort of comments have you gotten about the content of the book?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – The response Wise Mind, Open Mind received from pioneering leaders such as Ram Dass, Lama Surya Das, and Dr. Judith Orloff plus many readers has been very positive and encouraging. For example, Ram Dass, spiritual leader, and the author of “Be Here Now” says, “We have the creativity in us that creates the universe – all we need do is be aware of it. This book provides a wise roadmap to the treasure within.”
Nikki Leigh – What makes this a book that other people MUST read and WHY?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – In my new book, Wise Mind, Open Mind I discuss a three step process that combines mindfulness meditation, creative thinking and positive psychology to help readers to let go of their past; tune into the present and their core creativity; and move forward with passion and purpose. This approach allows one to focus on the building of their “mindstrength” — the ability to very quickly and easily shift out of a reactive mode and become fully present in the moment, experiencing the full force of your emotions even as you recognize that they are temporary and will soon dissipate.
Nikki Leigh – What people NEED to read this book and WHY?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – Anyone wishing to bring more clarity and passion into their lives or who need help to transition through some type of loss or challenge can benefit from my book. Wise Mind, Open Mind helps readers to be mindful of, and accepting of, the impermanence of life. Buddhism teaches that there are cycles of change. What is barren land will eventually provide delicious and ripe new fruit. The task is to accept the impermanence of our situations and not to fight against the losses or sorrows. If you watch a river, you’ll notice that it is always moving and changing. Something I find comforting is to tell myself that all my prized possessions are on loan to me while I’m on this planet. One day, we all must let go and return everything that we’ve held near and dear.
Nikki Leigh – What sparks your creativity? Any tips to help others spark their own
creativity?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – I list many ways to access one’s core creativity in my book, Wise Mind Open Mind. One of the most effective ways though is through mindfulness practice, which is what I use. Mindfulness allows us to listen and pay attention to what we might otherwise overlook—whether it’s a fresh idea or a new way of perceiving a situation—enhancing our creativity and letting go of our obstacles to innovation. I also encourage my patients to dabble in the Arts. Simply dabbling in the fine arts, with no specific goals or intentions, awakens our ability to approach life with greater openness and curiosity. If you feel that you simply have no creative abilities, consider your dreams. Most nights, your mind generates at least a few fantastical images that you can recall upon waking if you slowly bring yourself back into consciousness with the intent of remembering your dreams. I often ask my clients to work with the images of their dreams by meditating on them, writing about them, and exploring them to see what ideas and insights they have to offer.
Another way to access your core creativity is through Mindful Movement. Disciplines such as martial arts, tai chi, and yoga are the most well-known ways of quieting the rational mind and opening up to the intuitive mind and its connection to the numinous creative force. Any physical activity that involves discipline and a slowing down of thoughts, from skiing to dance, actually creates new neural pathways in your brain that become roads to innovation. Finally you need to trust in the creative process. Artists are often seen as flighty, but in my experience the most successful ones are extremely disciplined. When blocked, they aren’t afraid to shift gears, to take a walk or a long retreat, to pick up a pen instead of a guitar, to break the formula of how they’ve always chosen to connect to their creativity by trying something entirely different. Trusting that they’ll tap into that flow, they persevere long past the point when others would give up.
Nikki Leigh – What do you think motivates people to become authors? What motivated you to get into this unusual industry?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – I feel that most authors have a passion and drive to share their work with others. When an author writes with this type of motivation then their writing becomes a pathway to tap into their core creativity so that it becomes almost a spiritual expression and experience.
Nikki Leigh – Tell me about the most unusual things you have done to promote any books?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – I created a website called the Open Mind Resource Center (www.openmindresourcecenter.com) that with the help of other innovative leaders is a place where people can come to get the support and tools they need to help them through a crisis.
Nikki Leigh – If a potential reader thinks that your book wouldn’t interest them, what would you say to convince them to buy? I’m thinking something better than “It’s the greatest book ever.” Give me something more specific 
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – If a reader has resistance to purchasing a copy of Wise Mind, Open Mind then they could believe in one of the four basic myths about Mindfulness Mediation. The first myth is that practicing mindfulness meditation will conflict with my religious beliefs, which in reality is free of religious and spiritual dogma. In fact, if you believe in turning to God for guidance, you can use mindfulness meditation to set aside distractions and listen to the divine wisdom that can be found only when you tune out the endless chain of thoughts your own mind creates. The second is that people are too restless and busy to learn to be quiet and practice any form of meditation. But with just ten to twenty minutes on a meditation cushion once or twice each day will cause you to need less sleep, be more productive and less distracted, and make the most of your time during the day. The third misconception is that mindfulness will put out the fire of one’s ambition and creativity. Mindfulness practice seems to ground restless people, transforming their energy from a chaotic, even manic, discharge to a more focused and heightened exuberance that then can be channeled into productivity. The fourth fallacy is if I practice mindfulness, what I’ll discover will be so upsetting that I will become paralyzed with fear. The fear of what will arise from the subconscious isn’t entirely irrational, but the chances of experiencing intense discomfort while mindfully meditating are slim. If you have been avoiding painful feelings and thoughts for a long time, you may need someone with you to support you in your process of uncovering this pain. A skilled psychologist or mindfulness meditation teacher can be enormously helpful in guiding you through these emotions and modulating their intensity.
Nikki Leigh – Why does the topic of your book interest you? Why would it interest potential readers? Give us a hook to reel in new readers.
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – Whether you know you’re ready to change or sense that you should, whether you’re struggling to accept that your circumstances have shifted or you’re feeling stuck or blocked by an unknown force and unable to move forward, it’s important to recognize that change is unavoidable. Life is continually in flux, and even that which seems immutable can be destroyed or altered in an instant. The Buddhists refer to this as the law of impermanence. Nothing stays the same, not even the rocks and the mountains, which rain, snow, and rivers sculpt over time. Each day, millions of your body’s cells die while millions more are born. Stasis is an illusion our egos create to fend off the fear of change.
When change is not your choice, you can’t avoid suffering, but you can choose to view the change as an avenue to personal evolution. You can push aside your perceived limitations and let go of the habits that have provided you with comfort, familiarity, and a false sense of safety, and go forth with fear in check, using creativity to illuminate new paths. You can break out of the dynamic of push and pull, of desire for change and resistance to it, and step past the boundaries of the known. You can recognize that while you may attain some comfort from the habit of trying to control the flow of your life, clinging to the familiar also breeds boredom and discontent. It prevents you from fully inhabiting your life and keeps you mired in regret. It keeps you small.
The secret to successful reinvention is to understand that you don’t have to greet change with apprehension and resistance, focusing on the potential for suffering, because if you take that route, you experience the very suffering you’d hoped to avoid. When it’s time for change, whether you’re losing a loved one, your perfect health, the job you loved, or the lifestyle you enjoyed, you have the opportunity to make your life even better than it is, as unfathomable as that may seem at first.
Nikki Leigh – Did I miss anything you want to tell my blog readers?
Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. – No, I believe we have covered everything. Thank you for speaking with me and sharing my information with your readers.
