As a Man Thinketh

The above quote from the author summarizes the idea of this book. The book emphasizes on the importance of thoughts in the development of human being. Thoughts affect all the arenas of one’s life.

The character is nothing but sum of all the man’s thoughts. In turn, person’s character influences the conditions and circumstances of his life. Every action has its origin in thoughts, even the spontaneous ones.

“Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruit.”

Man is made or unmade by his own thoughts; they can destroy him or build him up. Man becomes master of his of thoughts, by application, self-analysis and experience. Diamonds are found by mining very deep similarly, man must dig deep inside the soul to find the connected truths.

A person must watch, control, and alter his thoughts; also must trace the effect of his thoughts on himself, others, his life and circumstances. When person consciously does this process he can truly be maker of his own character, life and destiny.

Human mind is like a garden – if cultivated and cared for properly yields flowers and fruits, else produces weeds. A gardener would always cut out unwanted and harmful weeds. Likewise, we must continuously remove impure, wrong and useless thoughts and cultivate positive, pure and righteous thoughts.

When person practices self-control and self-purification of thought, and remedies his defects of character, he finds that his circumstances will change.

Thoughts are like seeds that build person’s character. Good thoughts results in good character, bad thoughts into bad character.

Human body and mind are connected. Unhealthy thoughts ruin mind which in turn ruins health; while good and beautiful thoughts are conducive for good health. The habits of thoughts will affect (good or bad) the body.

Continually living in thoughts of ill-will, cynicism, suspicion and envy, is like choosing to be confined in a self-made prison.

Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment. Aimlessness is a vice. Those who lack purpose in their life fall prey to worries, fears, troubles and self-pity, which lead to failure and loss. All the thoughts should be linked for fulfilling the purpose of life. This is the royal road to self-control and true concentration of thought. The person may repeatedly fail to accomplish the purpose, but eventually will overcome weaknesses and grow in character- which is true measure of success.

If focusing on sole purpose brings apprehension, the thoughts should be fixed on performing the duty faultlessly. This will help in developing resolution in them. Strength can be developed by effort and practice, even in the weakest soul.

A man should mentally mark out a path to achieving his purpose and rigorously exclude doubts and fears. The will to do comes from the knowledge that we can do. Doubt and fear are the great enemies of knowledge and must be slayed. He who has conquered doubt and fear conquers failure. Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes a creative force.

All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts. “If you think – You can; You can. If you think- You can’t; you can’t. Either ways you are right”. Man’s sufferings and his happiness are evolved from within.

A man can only rise, conquer and achieve by lifting up his thoughts.

Before a man can achieve anything — even worldly — he must lift his thoughts above slavish animal indulgence. A man whose first thought is bestial indulgence could neither think clearly nor plan methodically.

By the aid of self-control, resolution, purity, righteousness, and well-directed thought a man ascends. By the aid of indolence, impurity, corruption and confusion of thought man descends. All achievements — business, intellectual, spiritual — are the result of definitely directed thought. To achieve greatly one must sacrifice greatly.

A person will always gravitate towards that one secretly loves the most. Person becomes as small as his controlling desire, or as great as his dominant aspiration.  The vision that one glorifies in their mind, the ideal that one enthrones in heart are the guiding forces for life.

Calmness of mind is one of the most beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of long and patient effort in self-control. The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good.