“Each of us is where we are by the law of our being. The thoughts which we have built into his character have brought us there, and in the arrangement of our life there is no element of chance, but all is the result of a law which cannot err. This is just as true of those who feel “out of harmony” with their surroundings as of those who are contented with them.” – Effect of Thoughts on Circumstances, As a Man Thinketh, p10
“The human 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.’ … Just as the gardener cultivates the plot, keeping it free from weeds and cultivating the flowers and fruits which are required, so may we tend the garden of our mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts.” – Effect of Thoughts on Circumstances, As a Man Thinketh, p9
There are certain books that change you forever after reading. You get to have a feeling like you were a different person before and are just born into a new person. You feel you cannot go back to your old self. Have you ever experienced it? I am sure you did! Everybody has a certain epiphany through various forms of experiences.
“Are we a living being with just ‘flesh and bone’ – that is a human body -, or are we a thinking being that uses our body for our presence here on earth?”
Despite being sometimes – hmm, frankly, maybe forever – philosophical, I confess I’ve never thought of a human being in terms of a thinking entity versus a flesh-and-bone entity. I sometimes pondered on the subject of why I was born at this time at this specific place on earth and on how to live a best life, but I never got a realization on why I go through certain experiences nor how to lead my life based on certain guided philosophy or principles.
I pursued education, pursued for certain occupation and pursued everything else, just because everybody was doing the same and believed that’s the way it should be. And bang! There came a moment I was asking myself WHY? Forever this way? Come on, am I following a bliss, so to speak? Is this all there is for me and for my life given on earth?
I had a precious chance to have a few conversations with the CEO of an MNC(to be precise, an overseas branch of it). He was such a kind and open-minded soul to spare his time for good conversations. While we talked about books, leadership, management and self development topics, he introduced to me Robin Sharma who became a name recently among motivational gurus and so I started following him.
His newsletter included often book recommendations and the first one I chose from the list was this book. How blessed I am. This book gave me such a comfort, tranquility and everlasting insight on my question above and hence solved my old homework. We are what we think. We create what we experience. Our thought attracts the equivalent environment. The only way to experience what we desire is to develop our state of mind to that level.
I have one of favorite quotes carrying in my heart that became my dominating philosophy, one by French novelist Paul Bourget: “One must live the way one thinks or end up thinking the way one has lived.” How apt it is!
This is the first treasure book in my book selection. I found many self-help books I have read thereon, in one way or another, emphasize harnessing our thought process and our mind to achieve greatness or what we desire. Yes, mind comes first before everything else.
As a joke, due to my enthusiasm for this book, I keep four copies in my bookshelf!: The smallest one to carry inside my favorite bag all the time – like carrying a charm, I would say! -, and the rest for my own or for gifts to someone else. I wholeheartedly endorse this book and recommend to everyone.
What is your precious book that changed you forever into a better person? What has you grow spiritually to the next level of your existence?
Jay
WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK:
Everyone who aspires to be a better version of him/herself and have a rewarding life in his/her terms.
RATING: 5 out of 5
RECOMMENDED CATEGORIES:
Self Help, Self Development, Spirituality, Motivation, Inspiration
ABOUT THE BOOK
Author(s): James Allen (Revised into modern version by Arthur R. Pell, Ph. D. in 2008)
Published: 1903
Publisher: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, USA
Paperback, 45 pages
Leading by Reading 