title: The Vigorous Mind: Cross-train Your Brain to Break Through Mental, Emotional, and Professional Boundaries
author: Ingrid Cummings
description: <b>Ingrid E. Cummings </b>is a contributing Editor at <i>Indianapolis Monthly</i> magazine. Her monthly "Life Lessons" column has Ingrid taking up belly dancing, motorcycle riding, chess, dream interpretation, and many others adventures. She also writes an award-winning newspaper column called "Rubicon Crossings" and is an associate professor at Indiana University. Cummings is the host and executive producer of a radio show called "Rubicon Salon," a program that examines defining moments in the lives of accomplished individuals. An international public speaker and trainer, Cummings heads up her own strategic communications business, Rubicon Communications LLC. As a result of her interest in "everything under the sun," Ms. Cummings has founded The Rubicon Center for the Rebirth of Renaissance, which presents the annual Rubicon Distinguished Achievement Award. The "Rubie" is designed to recognize the pursuit of lifelong learning in the liberal arts.
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  Dedication
  
  To Jim, my own true love, who combines logic and sensitivity, reason and
  
  intuition, gentleness with strong masculinity: you are one of the most
  naturally
  
  whole-brained people I know.
  
  And to Dorothy, whose friendship is a deep well of strength.
  
   **Contents**
  
  > > [ _Cover_](9780063010253_Cover.xhtml)
  
  > >  _Title Page_
  
  > >  _Dedication_
  
  > >  _Preface_
  
  > > 1: From Panic to Power: Mastery over the Written Word
  
  > > 2: The Hair of the Dog That Bit You
  
  > > 3: Right Brain/Left Brain: What’s It All About?
  
  > > 4: Rumination: Daydreaming and Nightdreaming
  
  > > 5: Branching: The Whole-Brained Way to Organize Your Material
  
  > > 6: Procrastination: Not Just Around but Behind It
  
  > > 7: Assertiveness Training: Dealing with the Caliban Critic
  
  > > 8: Re-Vision: Caliban Returns, at Your Invitation
  
  > > 9: Going to the Movies: Creative Visualization and Writing
  
  > >  _Appendix 1: Whole-Brained Spelling_
  
  > >  _Appendix 2: Writing on Both Sides of the B