As a Man Thinketh

21st Century Edition

The Wisdom of

James Allen

Rephrased by Sam Torode

SAM TORODE BOOK ARTS

As a Man Thinketh: 21st Century Edition  is a modern version of  As a Man Thinketh (1903) by James Allen. It has been entirely rewritten in contemporary language by Sam Torode. Cover photo by Everst, courtesy Creative Market.

Copyright © 2017 by Sam Torode.

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Other Classics

Paraphrased by Sam Torode:

The Manual: A Philosopher’s Guide to Life

by Epictetus

The Meditations: An Emperor’s Guide to Mastery

by Marcus Aurelius

Everyday Emerson

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

INTRODUCTION

Widely considered the greatest self-help book of all-time,  As a Man Thinketh reveals how our thoughts shape our character, circumstances, health, appearance, and achievements. The choice is yours: either master your mind to create the life you want, or remain mired in frustration and failure.

James Allen (1864–1912) was born into a poor, working-class British family.  When  he  was  fifteen,  James’s  father  was  tragically  killed,  and  he dropped  out  of  school  to  work  and  support  his  family.  He  was  a  young laborer during the harsh early years of the Industrial Revolution.

For the next twenty years, James pulled himself up through the factory system.  Reading  voraciously  and  developing  writing  skills  during  his  few spare hours, he eventually reached the level of executive secretary.

Through it all, James centered his thoughts on truth, beauty, and virtue.

These qualities came to define his life.

At  age  38,  James  retired  from  business  to  become  a  writer  and contemplative philosopher. He moved to a small cottage in the country with his  beloved  wife,  Lily.  Together,  they  edited  a  philosophical  journal,   The Epoch, and   James poured out his thoughts in a steady stream of books.

Drawing from inspirations as diverse as the Bible, the Buddha, the Tao Te  Ching,  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson,  and  Walt  Whitman,  James  distilled  the timeless, practical principles for success in all areas of life.

After his death, Lily continued to edit  The  Epoch and publish James’s posthumous  works,  ensuring  that  his  legacy  would  endure.  Today,  James Allen's books are read more widely than ever, inspiring millions around the globe.

While James’s writing was exceptionally clear for its time,  As a Man Thinketh—like any 100-year-old book—uses archaic language that can be difficult  to  grasp.  For  this  21st  Century  Edition,  I  have  rephrased  James’s ideas  in  contemporary  English,  making  his  wisdom  available  to  today's readers.

As  a  bonus,  at  the  end  of  this  book  you’ll  find  an  exercise  that  I’ve found very helpful in applying the principles of  As a Man Thinketh  to my life.

—Sam Torode

FOREWORD

Mind is the master power that molds and makes; We  are mind, in one of the guises it takes.

Taking the tool of thought, we sculpt what we will, Shaping our lives for good or ill.

We think in secret, and it comes to pass; The world is our reflection—the mind’s looking-glass.

This handbook is the result of meditation and experience. It is not a theoretical treatise, but a practical guide. Its aim is to inspire men and women to realize that “we are the makers of ourselves” through the power of the thoughts we choose and encourage.

Mind  is  the  great  weaver  of  your  life,  shaping  both  your  inner character  and  outer  circumstances.  Up  till  now,  you  may  have  woven  in ignorance  and  pain;  but  from  this  day  forth,  may  you  weave  in enlightenment and happiness.

—James Allen

1.

CHARACTER

The proverb, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he,” encompasses our character, our condition, and the circumstances of our lives.

What is our experience of life, but the sum total of our thoughts over time?

As  a  plant  grows  from  a  seed,  so  every  act  grows  from  a  seed  of thought.  Everything  you  do  or  say  begins  in  your  mind.  Even  when  your actions  seem spontaneous, they are driven by unconscious thoughts.

Behavior is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits.

We reap the harvest—sweet or bitter—of our inner garden.

Thoughts in the mind determine your course, Steering your life for better or worse.

If you dwell on thoughts that are petty and unkind, Pain will follow you as the ox’s plough—behind.

But dwell on thoughts that are noble and pure, And joy will follow you as your own shadow—sure.

—adapted from a saying of the Buddha

The law of cause and effect is as valid in the invisible realm of thought as it is in the visible, material world. A noble character doesn’t appear by chance; it is the natural result of consistent, right thinking—the cumulative effect of dwelling on noble thoughts.

We are built up or brought down by ourselves. Within your mind you can  build  a  fortress  of  joy,  strength,  and  peace;  or  you  can  forge  the weapons  of  thought  that  will  bring  about  your  own  destruction.  By  right thinking,  we  harmonize  with  the  divine  intelligence  of  the  universe;  by wrong thinking, we descend to the level of beasts. We choose the direction along which our character develops, and this determines the course of our life.

Of  all  the  uplifting,  ennobling  thoughts  you  can  dwell  upon,  none  is more  powerful  than  this:  that  you  are  the  master  of  your  own  mind,  the author of your own character, and thus the maker of your own destiny.

With  the  powers  of  intelligence  and  love,  you  hold  the  key  to  turn every  situation  to  your  advantage.  You  have  the  ability  to  transform yourself and your circumstances.

Today,  you  may  be  mired  in  failure  and  misery  because  of  past mistakes rooted in foolish thinking. But if you grasp this new understanding of the power of thought, you can begin to direct your energies in a positive direction.  By  taking  conscious  control  of  your  mind,  you  can  rejuvenate your life.

You  don’t  have  to  take  this  on  faith.  Try  it.  Watch,  evaluate,  and change your thoughts over the next few days, and observe the results. It’s not  a  matter  of  blind  belief  but  of  investigation,  practice,  and  experience.

Begin with the most trivial, everyday concerns—even the simplest subjects are portals to self-knowledge.

Diamonds  are  obtained  by  mining  under  the  earth.  Dig  deep  within your  soul,  and  you  will  gain  new  riches  of  understanding,  wisdom,  and power. You will realize the truth of the statement, “Seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.”

2.

CIRCUMSTANCES

The mind is like a garden which can be cultivated or allowed to run wild.

Either way, it will bring forth results. If seeds of intelligent thought are planted and nurtured, they will grow into a healthful harvest. If the garden is left to chance, weed-seeds will blow in, take root, and flourish, producing nothing of use.

Just as a gardener weeds, waters, and cares for his or her plot, we must cultivate  our  minds—weeding  out  negative,  mistaken,  useless  thoughts, while encouraging positive, true, fruitful thoughts. Even good seedlings, not cared for, will be choked out by weeds.

Character is simply the sum of our thoughts. And character manifests itself  in  our  environment  and  through  our  circumstances.  So,  the  outer condition of your life is always a reflection of your inner state.

This doesn’t mean that you have brought about  everything  in your life at a given moment (other people have their creative powers, too, which may cooperate or conflict with yours), or that you  earn every circumstance that comes your way. But our thoughts are so closely tied to our circumstances, they  are  inseparable.  Even  when  events  and  situations  are  outside  of  our control, our thoughts about and responses to them are within our control.

As a general rule, then, we are responsible for where we are.  Who we are  has  brought  us  here.  This  is  true  of  those  who  are  happy  in  their surroundings,  and  equally  true  of  those  who  feel  out  of  harmony  with theirs.

The  universe,  and  everything  in  it,  is  progressive  and  evolving.

Wherever  we  find  ourselves,  we  are  here  so  that  we  can   grow.  Once  we learn  the  lesson  of  a  given  circumstance,  it  passes  away  and  a  new circumstance arises.

We are victims of circumstance only so long as we consider ourselves pawns  of  fate,  tossed  here  and  there  by  outside  forces.  But  if  you  realize your creative power—if you assume responsibility for the seeds and soil of your inner garden—then you become the master of your fate.

The  soul  attracts  whatever  it  secretly  holds—that  which  it  loves   and that which it fears. It rises to the height of its highest ideals; and it falls to

the  level  of  its  basest  desires.  The  soul  broadcasts  its  frequency,  and  the world returns it.

Every  thought-seed  sown  in  the  mind—or  allowed  to  fall  there  and take  root—blossoms  into  action,  bears  the  fruit  of  circumstance,  and produces  more  of  its  own  kind.  Good  thoughts  bear  good  fruit;  bad thoughts, bad fruit.

The outer world springs from the inner world. Everything external to us—good or bad, desirable or undesirable—can be used for our education and  benefit.  We  can  learn  from  both  pleasure  and  pain,  happiness  and misery, success and failure.

No one ends up in jail by an accident of fate (unless they are falsely convicted,  which  is  another  subject).  When  a  person  entertains dishonest  and  destructive  thoughts,  they  start  down  a  path  that  leads  to crime.  Circumstances  do  not  force  honest  people  to  turn  to  crime.

Circumstances  only  provide  an   opportunity  for  criminal  thoughts, previously nurtured in secret, to blossom into action.

Circumstances  do  not  shape  us  so  much  as  they   reveal  us.  As  the masters of our thoughts, we are the authors of our environments. As the sole gardener of your own mind, you have more power than any other force in shaping your environment and your destiny.

People  do  not  attract  what  they  want,  but  what  they   are.  Our  whims and daydreams may not come true, but  who we are  will always be manifest in  our  external  lives.  The  content  of  our  minds  and  hearts  cannot  remain hidden  for  long.  Fate  is  not  something  outside  you,  beyond  your  control.

You  are your fate. Character is destiny.

Your wishes and dreams will only come true when they are in harmony with  your  thoughts  and  actions.  It  is  futile  to  fight  against  circumstances.

You  cannot  change  your  surroundings  while  continuing  to  think  the  same thoughts  that  brought  you  here.  To  improve  your  circumstances,  improve yourself.  Self-discipline  is  key  to  obtaining  anything  you  want,  no  matter whether  your  aims  are  high  or  low.  Even  those  who  simply  desire  money must  make  many  personal  sacrifices  to  earn  it.  Think  of  how  many  more sacrifices  it  takes  to  develop  a  resilient,  trustworthy,  inspiring,  fully-rounded character.

We  may  have  worthy  goals,  but  our  efforts  will  be  thwarted  if  our thoughts  are  not  in  alignment  with  them.  Picture  a  young  man  born  into

poverty  who  rightly  wishes  for  money  but  takes  a  shortcut  to  get  it,  by stealing from his employer. He is only digging himself a deeper hole.

Picture  a  woman  who  suffers  from  debilitating  health  problems because of her diet of processed foods and sweetened drinks. She wishes to be healthy and is willing to visit doctors and take prescription drugs, but she refuses to change her lifestyle. She can never gain a healthy body without a healthy mindset.

Picture  a  company  that  pays  its  workers  the  bare  minimum,  and refuses  them  health  insurance,  paid  vacation  time,  and  other  benefits.  Its executives wish for profits, but lasting success cannot be built on the backs of discontented, disloyal, overworked, underproductive employees.

It  is  not  enough  just  to  have  a  positive  goal.  As  the  above  examples show, our goals must be in harmony with our thoughts—both conscious and unconscious—or they will never be realized.

The  interplay  between  thought  and  circumstance  is  too  complex  to judge  a  person’s  heart  and  mind  simply  based  on  their  current circumstances.  One  entrepreneur  may  be  upright  and  honest  in  certain aspects, yet their business fails. Another may be boastful and dishonest in certain  aspects,  yet  their  business  succeeds.  It  is  common  to  say  that  the first  entrepreneur  failed   because  they  are  honest,  while  the  second succeeded  because they are dishonest—but this is a mistaken conclusion. It assumes  that  some  people  are  completely  virtuous  while  others  are completely  evil,  which  is  an  oversimplification.  Upon  closer  examination, the  more  dishonest  entrepreneur  may  possess  certain  virtues—like decisiveness and efficiency—that the more honest one lacks.

It soothes our vanity to say that we failed because we’re too good, or that  we’re  broke  because  we’re  too  honest.  But  this  is  not  true.  Until  we have wiped every impure thought from our minds and cleansed every spot from our souls, how can we know that our sufferings are the result of our virtues and not our faults? Or that victory will not come to us tomorrow, if we persist through today’s setbacks?

The  purpose  of  suffering  is  to  teach,  strengthen,  and  purify.  Do  not whine  and  pity  yourself;  learn  and  grow  from  your  faults  and  failures.

Search for the hidden justice that rules your life. Instead of kicking against circumstances, use them as stair-steps to greater heights, as challenges that reveal new powers within yourself.

Law,  not  confusion,  rules  the  universe.  Justice,  not  injustice,  is  its guiding principle.  You attract what you are. You get what you give.

Thistle  seeds  cannot  yield  corn,  and  corn  seeds  cannot  yield  thistles.

Good  thoughts  cannot  produce  bad  results,  and  bad  thoughts  cannot produce good results. Everyone understands this law in the natural world, but few understand it in the mental and moral world.

A  blessed  life  is  the  sure  result  of  right  thought.  By  blessed,  I  don’t mean  merely  wealthy—a  person  can  be  rich  and  miserable,  after  all.

Blessedness is a state of harmony and happiness. This is the measure of a good life.

You cannot directly choose your circumstances; but by changing your thoughts,  you  can  indirectly  reshape  your  circumstances.  As  you  change your  attitude  towards  things  and  other  people,  they  will  change  towards you. Gates that were previously locked will open; people will be eager to help you. New opportunities will spring up at every turn.

The  world  is  your  kaleidoscope;  the  ever-changing  combinations  of colors  it  presents  are  exquisitely  tuned  to  reflect  the  hues  of  your  ever-moving thoughts.

You will be what you  will to be.

Only failure seeks contentment

In that alibi, “environment.”

The strong mind soars above, free.

It masters time, conquers space,

Outwits that trickster, Chance;

It takes the crown from Circumstance,

And puts it in a servant’s place.

Your inner will, that unseen force,

Offspring of mind and soul,

Can forge a path to any goal,

And conquer anything in its course.

3.

HEALTH

The body is the servant of the mind. It obeys the mind’s commands, whether conscious or unconscious. The conscious mind chooses to contract muscles and move our body; while the unconscious mind directs our autonomic nervous system, regulating our heartbeat, circulation, breathing, and other bodily processes.

Our health and appearance, like our circumstances, are shaped by our thoughts.  Negative  thoughts  direct  the  body  to  disorder,  disease,  and decline.  Positive,  constructive  thoughts  energize  the  body  and  impart  a youthful glow.

Over  time,  unhealthful  thoughts  express  themselves  in  a  weak, overweight,  or  sickly  body.  Slothful  thoughts  encourage  a  sedentary lifestyle.  Both  self-indulgent  and  self-loathing  thoughts  can  cause overeating.  Anxious,  stressful,  and  fearful  thoughts  set  off  our  internal alarm  system—blood  pressure  rises,  breathing  becomes  fast  and  shallow, and  the  body  releases  stress-response  hormones.  When  this happens  frequently,  our  glands  are  depleted  and  our  immune  system  is weakened.

The  opposite  is  also  true—positive  thoughts  boost  our  health  and immunity.  Strong,  confident,  caring,  grateful,  happy  thoughts  express themselves in a vigorous, vibrant, graceful, beautiful body.

While you may inherit a genetic blueprint from your parents, the tools for building your body are in your hands, and the materials that will be used are  up  to  you.  (These  include  the  foods  you  eat  and  the  exercises  you perform.) Two builders, working from the same blueprint, can produce two entirely  different  houses—one  cheap,  sloppy,  soon-dilapidated;  the  other fine-crafted, stately, and enduring.

Diet and exercise actually begin in the mind. What will you eat? How will you move your body? Your dominant thoughts determine the answers.

A person who reads about nutrition and often thinks about which foods are the most nourishing will naturally make healthy choices, without strain or self-deprivation. A person who focuses their mind on athletics or muscular development,  combining  enthusiasm  and  dedication  with  a  sound  training program,  will  surely  build  a  strong  and  speedy  physique.  And  in  athletic

competitions, intelligent planning, quick thinking, and mental determination lead to victory.

Healthy  thoughts  become  healthy  habits.  Hold  a  vision  of  yourself glowing with energy and vitality, act in harmony with that vision, and you will grow to embody it.

If you wish to protect your body from sickness, purify your mind. If you  wish  to  be  physically  attractive,  beautify  your  mind.  Thoughts  of jealousy,  hatred,  apathy,  disappointment,  and  despair  rob  the  body  of  its natural radiance. A “sour face” is the expression of sour thoughts.

I know a 96-year-old woman with the bright, innocent face of a girl.

And I know a 36-year-old man with a permanent frown, who looks at least twice  his  age.  One  is  the  outflowing  of  a  sunny,  friendly  disposition;  the other of discontent and a bad temper.

As you cannot have a light-filled, airy home unless you pull back the curtains  and  open  the  windows,  you  cannot  have  a  bright,  happy countenance  without  opening  your  mind,  releasing  negative  and  harmful thoughts, and letting in thoughts of joy, goodwill, and peace.

Those  who  remain  pure  in  their  thoughts  grow  old  gracefully  and serenely.  Their  waning  years  are  bathed  in  beautiful,  mellow  hues,  like  a sunset over the ocean.

I recently sat at the deathbed of a true philosopher. He was young in everything except years, and he died as sweetly and peacefully as he lived.

There  is  no  better  medicine  than  cheerful  thought  for  curing  and preventing bodily ills. To wish the best for all people; to find the good in everything; to be content in all circumstances—such thoughts are the portal to heaven.

4.

PURPOSE

In order to accomplish anything, thought must be wedded to  purpose. Too often, we allow our thoughts to drift aimlessly on the seas of life; purpose directs them to a desired destination.

Those who lack a central purpose in life fall prey to worries, fears, and petty  troubles,  and  end  up  stuck  in  self-pity.  They  may  appear  virtuous, because they lack any glaring faults and make no great mistakes, but they take a long, winding route to failure and unhappiness just the same.

Conceive a central purpose for your life and set out to accomplish it. It may be a noble ideal, such as spreading justice and freedom, or a worldly attainment, such as founding a successful business. Whatever it is, make it the  focal  point  of  your  thoughts.  Dedicate  yourself  to  its  realization.  The power of thought multiplies through focus and concentration.

As  a  person  strives  and  fails,  again  and  again,  in  the  service  of  a worthy  goal,  their  character  is  strengthened  and  deepened.  They  turn obstacles into stepping-stones. This is the measure of true success.

What  if  you  are  a  young  student,  or  are  waiting  for  inspiration,  and don’t yet have a central purpose in mind? Start by focusing on the task at hand—whatever duty is before you at school, work, or home. Concentrate on doing your job as well as you can, however insignificant it may seem.

This  will  develop  and  expand  your  ability  to  take  on  greater  goals  in  the future.

You may have little or no experience, but—now that you know mental power  can  be  developed  by  effort  and  exercise—you  can  begin  to  exert yourself. With patience and practice, your powers will grow exponentially.

To begin to think with a purpose in mind, laying aside distractions and daydreams,  is  to  enter  the  ranks  of  the  successful—those  who  learn  from their failures, find the advantage in every circumstance, think strongly, dare fearlessly, and act masterfully.

Once  you  conceive  a  purpose,  create  a  plan  for  its  attainment.  Look neither to the right nor left—fears and doubts will only pull you off-track.

Those  who  focus  on  fear  never  accomplish  anything.  The  power  to   do springs from the confidence that you  can.

Allied  with  purpose,  your  every  thought  is  energized,  giving  you  the courage  to  face  and  overcome  any  obstacle.  Purpose-driven  thought  is  a creative  force.  Understand  this,  and  you  are  ready  to  become  something more than a bundle of jumbled thoughts and shifting sensations. Put it into practice, and you will become the master of your mental powers.

5.

SUCCESS

As you think, so you are.

As you are, so you act.

As you act, so you attract.

—adapted from Ralph Waldo Emerson

All that we achieve, or fail to achieve, is the result of our own thoughts.

Your strengths and weaknesses, your virtues and faults, are entirely your own—they are not forced upon you by others or by circumstance. Only you can improve yourself.

Your happiness and suffering come from within. Only you can change your state. As you think, you are. As continue to think, you will be.

A  strong  person  cannot  help  a  weak  person  unless  they   want  to  be helped; even then, the weak person must work to become stronger. By your own  efforts,  you  must  develop  in  yourself  the  qualities  you  admire  in others.

Throughout  history,  it  has  been  commonly  said,  “The  many  are oppressed because the few lord over them. Let us hate the leaders.”

What  if  we  reversed  this  perspective?  “Good  leaders  are  scarce because the majority of people are followers. Let’s stop thinking and acting like helpless victims, rise up, and become leaders.”

When a person realizes that their thoughts determine their experience of  life,  they  have  no  desire  to  oppress  others,  nor  can  they  be  oppressed.

They  understand  that  the  oppressor  and  the  oppressed  are  cooperators  in ignorance. They have compassion for all. They are free.

The only way to rise is to elevate your thoughts.

To  achieve  anything,  we  must  lift  our  thoughts  above  sloth  and  self-indulgence.  Successful  people  put  off  gratification.  They  conceive  goals, create plans, and execute those plans. They act independently, on their own initiative. They master their minds, and so master their circumstances.

The higher you elevate your thoughts—expanding from desiring your own good, to the good of your family and friends, to the good of all people,

to the good of the whole earth and all creatures—the greater will be your success, and the more enduring your achievements.

Although  it  may  seem  so  at  times,  the  universe  does   not  favor  the greedy, the dishonest, and the violent. In fact, all forces—seen and unseen

—rush  to  help  the  humble,  the  honest,  and  the  generous.  Teachers  and prophets of all times and places have praised the same virtues because they are  written  into  the  fabric  of  our  nature.  All  spiritual  and  intellectual achievements  come  from  contemplating  the  beautiful,  the  good,  and  the true.

Yes,  some  successful  businessmen,  artists,  and  scientists  have  been touched by pride and selfishness—but their accomplishments flowed from their  virtues,  not  their  vices.  If  they  had  rooted  out  all  their  vices,  their achievements would have been all the greater.

Those  who  give  little  accomplish  little;  those  who  give  much accomplish much; those who give the most become the greatest.

All  achievements—whether  in  business,  science,  the  arts,  or  in personal  development  and  spiritual  evolution—are  the  result  of  purpose-driven thought. Goals differ, but the path to success remains the same.

6.

VISIONS

The dreamers are the redeemers of the world. Humanity is blessed in good times, and sustained through hard times, by the visions of its dreamers.

Inspired by their ideals, we work tirelessly to build a peaceful, just, compassionate society.

Composer, sculptor, painter, poet, prophet, sage—these are the artists of our ideals, the architects of heaven. The world is a better place because they lived.

If you cherish a beautiful vision in your heart, one day you will realize it. Explorers cherished visions of new worlds, and sailed the oceans to find them.  Scientists  cherished  visions  of  tiny  cells  and  vast  galaxies,  and invented  microscopes  and  telescopes  to  reveal  them.  Prophets  cherished visions  of  a  divine  power  permeating  the  universe,  and  entered  into harmony with it.

Cherish  your  visions  and  ideals;  cherish  the  music  that  moves  your heart.  For  out  of  your  love  will  flow  your  purpose—your  unique contribution to better this world.

Aim high and dream big; for as you dream, you will become. Your life will expand to fill the contours of your vision.

As the towering oak was once an acorn, the greatest achievement was once an idea. Dreams are the seeds of reality.

Your circumstances may be unfavorable now, but they will not remain so  for  long  if  you  conceive  an  ideal  and  strive  for  it.  An  interior transformation will soon express itself outwardly.

Picture a youth hard-pressed by poverty, confined for long hours in a stuffy workshop, unschooled and lacking all the arts of refinement. But he dreams  of  better  things.  He  values  intelligence,  grace,  and  beauty.  In  his mind, he envisions his ideal life. He springs into action, using all his spare time  and  money—little  as  it  is—to  develop  himself  and  expand  his horizons. Soon, the workshop cannot hold him. His mind has so outgrown his surroundings that he casts them off like an old coat.

Years later, we see him as a grown man. He is the master of his mind, with  which  he  exerts  power  and  influence.  He  shoulders  great responsibilities and creates products and services that benefit his customers.

He inspires others to follow his example and improve their own lives. He has grown to embody his vision.

I have known men and women like this.

You, too, will realize the vision of your heart, be it beautiful, ugly, or a mixture  of  both.  This  is  because  you  naturally  gravitate  towards  that  on which your mind fixates. You will rise as high as your greatest aspiration, or fall as low as your controlling desire.

The  ignorant,  seeing  only  the  outward  results  and  not  the  internal processes  behind  them,  chalk  up  everything  to  chance  and  fate.  Seeing  a wealthy person, they say, “If only I were that lucky”; seeing a scientist, they say, “If only I were were born with brains”; seeing a humanitarian, they say,

“If  only  God  had  a  purpose  for  me.”  They  don’t  see  the  forming  and holding of a vision, the years of training, and the overcoming of obstacles along the way. They don’t see the struggles; they only see the successes.

In  all  human  endeavors  there  are  efforts  and  there  are  results.  The result is proportional to the strength of effort. Chance or fate has nothing to do  with  it;  we  create  our  own  luck  by  preparing  for  and  seizing opportunities as they arise. Achievements are dreams realized.

The  vision  that  you  hold  in  your  mind,  the  ideal  that  you  cherish  in your heart—this you will build your life by, and this you will become.

7.

PEACE

Peace of mind is the crowning jewel of wisdom. It is the result of long, patient practice leading to the mastery of thoughts and moods. It indicates profound knowledge of the laws of nature and the mind.

A person can be calm in all circumstances only if they understand how their thoughts shape and color their experience, and have the mental agility to see things from new perspectives. Where others would say “all is lost,”

they  remain  steadfast,  knowing  they  have  the  tools  to  turn  any  adversity into opportunity. They do not fear the unknown, for they trust in the law of cause and effect that governs the universe. They are resilient, and embrace change.

Even  the  average  person  will  benefit  from  taking  their  first  steps  in tranquility.  In  business  and  all  other  relationships,  people  prefer  a  calm, even-keeled partner. The more peaceful a person becomes, the greater their success and influence. Others will trust them, be drawn to them, and lean on them in times of trouble.

This  poise  of  character—serenity—is  the  blossom  of  right  thinking, the  fruit  of  the  soul.  It  is  more  desirable  than  gold.  Mere  wealth,  without peace of mind, gives no satisfaction.

Think of how many people spoil their lives by stewing in thoughts of ingratitude,  injustice,  jealousy,  anger,  and  rage.  They  carry  conflict  with them wherever they go.

What  a  joy  it  is  to  meet  a  person  who  exudes  serenity.  They  stand strong and firm as a deeply-rooted, shade-giving tree. Through all kinds of weather,  they  comfort,  encourage,  and  inspire  all  who  come  into  their presence. The winds and storms of life cannot topple them.

Tempest-tossed  souls,  wherever  you  are,  whatever  your  current circumstances, know this: in the ocean of life, there are isles of blessedness.

The sunny shore of your ideal vision awaits you.

Keep  your  hand  firmly  on  the  helm  of  thought.  All  that  you  need  is within yourself.

Awaken  your  powers!  Self-discipline  is  strength.  Right  thought  is mastery. Calmness is confidence.

Say to your heart, “Peace, be still.”

*

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EXERCISE

Visualize Your Ideal Life

This is a practical exercise for applying the principles of  As a Man Thinketh, in which you’ll visualize your ideal life and describe it on paper.

It’s important to write out your vision by hand. Writing turns vague ideas into definite words; and  writing  by hand, in particular (rather than typing), imprints those words deep in your mind.

Sit down with paper and pen, and imagine yourself five years in the future, living your ideal life.

Begin by writing, “I am so happy and grateful, now that. . . .” Go on to describe your ideal life in the present tense, as if you’re currently enjoying it.

Write a brief paragraph for each major area of your life, describing what your success looks and feels like from the inside. Suggested categories include:

Romantic partner (or dating relationships) Work

Home

Finances

Creative expression

Spiritual connection

Giving back by helping others

Family (relationships with parents, children, etc.) Travel

Physical habits and health

As you write, focus on things within your control—what  you’re doing, and how  you’re feeling—and avoid statements that depend on specific other people. For instance, write, “I’m happy to be in a mutually-loving, supportive relationship,” rather than, “I’m happy because Jenny [or whomever your current crush happens to be] loves me.”

Or, “I find joy in singing on stage with confidence, and helping my audience feel good,” rather than, “I’m happy because I won a Grammy.”

When you’re finished, save the paper in a private location where you can re-read it now and then. Keep your vision in mind and, over the next five years, you’ll be amazed at how your life changes to align with it.

Stay the course and your experience will be the proof of James Allen’s principle:

The vision that you hold in your mind,

the ideal that you cherish in your heart—

this you will build your life by,

and this you will become.

FURTHER READING

If you enjoyed  As a Man Thinketh: 21st Century Edition, try these related modern-language paraphrases of classic wisdom books:

The Manual: A Philosopher’s Guide to Life by Epictetus

The Meditations: An Emperor’s Guide to Mastery by Marcus Aurelius

Everyday Emerson by Ralph Waldo Emerson For a scientific perspective on how our thoughts affect our lives—even at the cellular level—read these fascinating books:

The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton

You Are the Placebo by Joe Dispenza

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Foreword

1. Character

2. Circumstances

3. Health

4. Purpose

5. Success

6. Visions

7. Peace

Exercise: Visualize Your Ideal Life

Further Reading