As A Man Thinketh

August 09, 2020

“As a man thinketh in his heart so shall he be” by James Allen is a popular self-help book which throws light on how our thoughts are effecting our life and circumstances. The book contains seven small chapters with a huge wisdom that would change the lives of many if understood and implied accordingly with faith and acceptance. So here I would like to reveal the deep meanings of this book.

1. Thought and Character

The author tells that one’s character is the sum of one’s own thoughts. Whatever he is; he is because of what he has always thought; thoughts including both conscious and unconscious. The author has explained this fact by relating our thoughts to a seed and our life to the plant that springs from a thought (seed).

Sow a seed 👉 Flower 👉 Fruit

Similarly,

Thoughts 👉 Actions 👉 Results

Meaning: Your thoughts are the seeds you choose to sow inside you. Your actions are the blossom of your thoughts (seeds) and your Joy and Sufferings are the fruits.

Read it again.

So whatever you’re today is the sum of all your thoughts (conscious and unconscious). Make sure if you want an apple tree but you sow an half apple seed and a half mango seed then you’ll get nothing but the old tree. So it’s upon you and only you what you choose to sow inside you.

Man is always the master.

2. Effect Of Thoughts On Circumstances

Author says that your circumstances do not make you but you make your circumstances. It is again upon you what you choose to think, you’ll get the circumstances accordingly.

Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.

Therefore, a man himself is the shaper of his environment. And we are always trying to improve our circumstances but never willing to improve ourselves.

Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results.

So if you’re happy, healthy, rich, blessed and fulfilled, you’re because of your good thoughts and if you’re depressed, ill, poor, troubled and discontented, you’re because of your bad thoughts. Also, your thoughts cannot be kept secret; they become your habits giving you circumstances.

3. Effect Of Thought On Health And Body

Author says that your body is the servant of your mind. Your change of diet will never help you if you do not change your thoughts. Your body gets diseases because your thoughts are fearful.

And,

When a man makes his thoughts pure, he no longer desires impure food.
Clean thoughts make clean habits.

4. Thought And Purpose

Author says that if you don’t have a purpose, then you will easily fall for bad thoughts. But when you’ve a central purpose and that purpose becomes the centralizing point of your thoughts, then you’ll accomplish your thoughts. Also, if you fail again and again, you’ll still accomplish your purpose if you’re willing to accept that failure as a strength of gained character.

And everything requires patience and efforts, so do your thoughts require patience and efforts to rebuild.

As the physically weak man can make himself strong by careful and patient training, so the man of weak thoughts can make them strong by exercising himself in right thinking.

5. The Thought-Factor In Achievement

Author says that all your strengths and weaknesses are because of you and no one else; and can only be altered by you and no one else. Because,

A strong man cannot help a weaker man unless that weaker is willing to be helped.

Also, if you want to achieve something you are supposed to sacrifice something. So sacrifice all your other thoughts and focus only on what you want to achieve.

A rich man has a money-mindset. What is your mindset?

6. Visions And Ideals

Author says that our dreams are the seedlings of our reality and we need to cherish our visions, ideals and the music that stirs in our heart. And if we stay true to our visions and ideals in our heart, we will achieve them one day. Our beautiful life is due to our beautiful visions and ideals.

If you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built.

7. Serenity

Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.

Author says that many people destroy their beautiful life due to their explosive tempers. They lose their temper due to their lack of self-control. If your mind is calm, you’ll be able to govern yourself and will know how to adapt yourself to others.