As a man thinketh : James Allen

“As a Man Thinketh” is a literary essay by James Allen, published in 1903. It deals with power of our thought and though there are many book on this subject this book has been as classic. It is a quick read with only 80 pages but the content is so power packed that you will spend some time re-reading the words again just to assimilate the deeper meaning.

I will truly say that I didn’t expect much while picking this book but I would be wrong if I say it didn’t blew my mind. This book does not beat around the bush and just come straight to the point. I especially feel that this book was meant for me and was talking to me only. I would say everyone should have this book in their bookshelf and one should keep re-reading this time and again to internalize the ideas into your life and your mind.

I have tried to capture some of the points that has left impact on me so that I can revisit it time and again and others can also learn something from it

• “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he“. As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every act of a man springs from the hidden seeds of thought, and could not have appeared without them
• A noble and Godlike character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of long-cherished association with Godlike thoughts
• Man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind
• Man is buffeted by circumstances so long as he believes himself to be the creature of outside conditions, but when he realized that is a creative power, and he may command the hidden soil and seeds of his being out of which circumstances grow, he then becomes the rightful master of himself
• The soul attracts that which it secretly harbours; that which it loves, and also that which is fears. Circumstances are the means by which soul receives its own
• As the reaper of his own harvest, man learns both by suffering and bliss.
• Circumstances does not make the man; it reveals him to himself
• Men do not attract what they want, but that which they are
• The dishonest man may have some admirable virtues, which the other does not possess; and the honest man obnoxious vices which are absent in the other. The honest man reaps the benefit of his honest thoughts and acts; he also brings upon himself the suffering which his vices produce. The dishonest man likewise garners his own suffering and happiness
• Suffering is always the result of wrong thought is some direction. It is an indication that the individual is out of harmony with himself, with the Law of his being.
• A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out to accomplish it. It may take the form of a spiritual idea, or it may be a wordly object, he should steadily focus his thought-forces upon the object, which he has set before him. Even if he fails again and again to accomplish his purpose, the strength of character gained will be the measure of his true success and this form a new starting pint for future power and triumph
• A strong man cannot help a weaker unless the weaker is willing to be helped and even then the weak man must become strong of himself; he must by his own efforts, develop the strength which he admires in another, None but can alter his condition
• The great achievement was at first and for a time a dream. Dreams are the seedlings of realties.