So I Was Thinking…
The structure and function of the human brain is absolutely amazing. Time and time again I find myself just in a state of bewilderment when thinking about these things (with my brain, crazy!). The first thing we would think about when you talk about your brains function is just that, thinking. In a single day, the number of thoughts that are running around between your ears is astounding, and we so often forget the effects that our thoughts have on us. So what do you think?
As a Man Thinketh
I could write about what I myself think about thinking, but it would mostly just be a repetition of what is already written in a great literary work called “As a Man Thinketh” written by James Allen. It’s a shorter read and very eye-opening to the power of our thoughts and their effects on our own lives.
It is a book that can be quite deep and philosophical at times and requires a time of reflecting on the small and weighty portions of text. But it is worth every bit of mental work. It is one of my favorite books of all-time and I recommend it as a must read. It is a personally challenging, and can only be truly embraced if the reader has a willingness and motivation to change their thoughts. Otherwise the words will fall idly to the ground.
Start Reading It Today
Since it was written in 1902 before books had copyrights, it is available as a free download. Below are links for the download of the eBook and to a site where you can read the book without downloading it. There are many different formats in which it can be downloaded. PDF is the best if you want to read it on your computer. There are also e-reader versions available for your kindle, nook, or smartphone.
My Selections From As A Man Thinketh
I have chosen a number of my favorite excerpts from the book. I have chosen alot of quotes, but these are only a small amount of the excerpts that I have underlined in my version. It is that great of a book. I highly recommend reading the whole thing and trying to heed all the great advice. It is just an amazing read for those trying to change the way they think about their life, and in turn the way they live there life.
Excerpts from “As A Man Thinketh” – James Allen
“A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts”
“Man is made or unmade by himself”
“Man is always the master, even in his weakest and most abandoned state. But in his weakness and degradation he is a foolish master who misgoverns his ‘house-hold’”.
“Only by much searching and mining are gold and diamonds obtained, and man can find every truth connected with his being if he will dig deep into the mine of his soul. And that he is the maker of his character, the molder of his life, and the builder of his destiny, he may unerringly prove: if he will watch, control, and alter his thoughts, tracing their effects upon himself, upon others, and upon his life and circumstances; if he will link cause and effect by patient practice and investigation, utilizing his every experience, even to the most trivial, as a means of obtaining that knowledge of himself. In this direction, as in no other, is the law absolute that “He that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened”; for only by patience, practice, and ceaseless importunity can a man enter the Door of the Temple of Knowledge.
“Thought and character are one”
“As the progressive and evolving being, man is where he is that he may learn that he may grow; and as he learns the spiritual lesson which any circumstance contains for him, it passes away and gives place to other circumstances.”
“Every thought seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind, and to take root there, produces its own, blossoming sooner or later into act, and bearing its own fruitage of opportunity and circumstance. Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bad fruit.”
“The outer world of circumstance shapes itself to the inner world of thought”
“Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.”
“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves. They therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set.”
“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results. Bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results.”
“Men imagine that thought can be kept secret, but it cannot. It rapidly crystallizes into habit, and habit solidifies into circumstance.”
“A particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances. A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.”
“The body is the servant of the mind”
“Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment”
“So the man of weak thoughts can make them strong by exercising himself in right thinking”
“Who make all conditions serve them, and who think strongly, attempt fearlessly, and accomplish masterfully.”
“He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure”
“Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes creative force”
“All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts”
“A strong man cannot help a weaker unless that weaker is willing to be helped”
“A man can only rise, conquer, and achieve by lifting up his thoughts. He can only remain weak, abject, and miserably by refusing to lift up his thoughts.”
“There can be no progress nor achievement without sacrifice”
“He who would accomplish little need sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much. He who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.”
“To desire is to obtain; to aspire is to achieve.”
“Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become”
“Dreams are the seedlings of realities”
“You will receive that which you earn; no more, no less”
“You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration”
“The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart, this you will build your life by; this you will become”
As He Thinks
I want to highlight the last quote. This quote is one to remember in the midst of trying to grow.
“As he thinks, so is he; as he continues to think, so he remains”
Overall the lesson to be learned is that you can’t escape becoming what you think about. If you think depressing thoughts, you will be depressed. If you think angry thoughts, you will be angry. If you chose to think anxious thoughts and give over your thoughts to your fears, then you will be given way to anxiety and fear.
Instead, if you chose to think the greatest thought in each moment of everyday and focus on that which you want to become. Then there is no other possible outcome then becoming the greatest version of yourself. And with this in mind, I hope that you chose each thought with care.
A life filled with carefully chosen thoughts becomes a life carefully chosen.
Life, keep it simple and live it
Josh
Image Credit: Jason Devaun