thinking

Thinking Out Loud ~ What Thoughts Dictate Your Features?

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Let the Sunshine In

James Allen in his book, As a Man Thinketh, writes, “I know a woman of ninety-six who has the bright, innocent face of a girl. I know a man well under middle age whose face is drawn into inharmonious contours. The one is the result of a sweet and sunny disposition; the other is the outcome of passion and discontent. As you cannot have a sweet and wholesome abode unless you admit the air and sunshine freely into your rooms, so a strong body and a bright, happy, or serene countenance can only result from the free admittance into the mind of thoughts of joy and goodwill and serenity.”

As a Man Thinketh is available online at gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.

NOTE: James Allen wrote his book, As a Man Thinketh, in 1903. That was long before scientists began to research the mind body connection. Allen makes the mind body connection and argues that the kinds of thoughts we have will have their expression in our body. From my experience, it’s true. I know many people who are happy, kind, and compassionate. They go about their day filled with joy. They look remarkably younger than those I know who are angry about everything. They are angry about family, politics, and neighbors. Their thinking is written throughout their face. One way of de-aging ourselves is to change the way we think. Let the sunshine in and the years will wash away.

Thinking Out Loud ~ What Thoughts Dominate Your Day?

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Our Thoughts Lead to Our Actions

James Allen in his book, “A particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances. A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.” P. 28

As a Man Thinketh is available online at gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.

NOTE: Today, carry a  notebook with you and once every hour write down the dominant thought that you were thinking about over the past hour. At the end of the day take a tally and see what thoughts dominated your day. Did your dominant thoughts direct your conversations? Did your dominant thoughts direct your actions? If your conversations and your actions are not what you wanted or not bringing you the results you want, both personally and professionally, we have a great lesson here, we can choose to think about something else. We can choose to think about things that are uplifting, inspiring, and elevate us and others.

Thinking Out Loud ~ No Whiners Need Apply

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Stand Up!

James Allen in his book, “A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life. And as he adapts his mind to that regulating factor, he ceases to accuse others as the cause of his condition, and builds himself up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapid progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden powers and possibilities within himself.” P. 25

As a Man Thinketh is available online at gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.

NOTE: those of us who have raised children may have asked them when they did something wrong, “Tell me what you did.” The child may blame sibling or denied doing it. Then it is the parents work to help guide the child to take responsibility. Do you know adults who act the same way? They blame others, they blame the circumstances, but they never take responsibility for what happened and blame themselves. It is difficult to trust people who don’t take responsibility and who whine and blame others for their situation. When we take responsibility and act accordingly we grow with integrity.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Is It Time to Empower Yourself?

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We are the Creators of Our Day

James Allen in his book, “Every thought-seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind, and to take root there, produces its own, blossoming sooner or later into act, and bearing its own fruitage of opportunity and circumstance. Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bad fruit. The outer world of circumstance shapes itself to the inner world of thought, and both pleasant and unpleasant external conditions are factors, which make for the ultimate good of the individual. As the reaper of his own harvest, man learns both by suffering and bliss.” P. 17

As a Man Thinketh is available online at gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.

NOTE: Has someone ever said something to you that struck a raw nerve? It’s happened to me many times. I can recall those times where I let that one comment dictate how I felt for the entire day. I neglected all the good that surrounded me. I neglected all the treasures and benefits in front of me waiting for me to pick them up. I now know that I can replace my negative thoughts with more positive thoughts. I now know that i do not have to let another’s negative comments affect the rest of my day. It’s not the person’s fault who made the comment. It’s my fault for letting my thoughts grab hold of it. We are the masters of our fate.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Making Good Choices

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What Seeds Are You Sowing?

James Allen in his book, “As a Man Thinketh, says, “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.” P. 14

As a Man Thinketh is available online at gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.

NOTE: When the technological revolution began there was a saying, “garbage in, garbage out.” It works the same way with us. It works with the foods we eat. It works with the books we read. It works with the conversations we have with others. Garbage in, garbage out. Turning the phrase around, good things in, good things out. It seems such a simple formula to follow if we want to feel good, contribute in a good way to society, and be successful in our endeavors. Put good things in and good things will come out.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Reflecting is a Worthwhile Experience

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Learn From Your Experiences

James Allen in his book, “As a Man Thinketh, says, “[I}f he will watch, control, and alter his thoughts, tracing their effects upon himself, upon others, and upon his life and circumstances, linking cause and effect by patient practice and investigation, and utilizing his every experience, even to the most trivial, everyday occurrence, as a means of obtaining that knowledge of himself, which is Understanding, Wisdom, Power. ” P. 13

As a Man Thinketh is available online at gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.

NOTE: Many religious traditions tell us that an end of the day reflection on our day’s experiences is a good way to examine our conscience and reflect on our spiritual journey. When we reflect on our day’s experiences we can see what we did that was successful and what we did that we could do much better. In this way, we can learn from our experiences. The experiences of the day are not wasted. Each experience, whether good or bad, has a set of lessons to teach us if we are willing to harvest them. Practice reflecting on your day’s experiences for a week, and I think you’ll notice a wonderful difference.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Don’t Doubt Yourself

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You Are the Master of Your Thoughts

James Allen in his book, “As a Man Thinketh, says, “As a being of Power, Intelligence, and Love, and the lord of his own thoughts, man holds the key to every situation, and contains within himself that transforming and regenerative agency by which he may make himself what he wills.” P. 12

As a Man Thinketh is available online at gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.

NOTE: it takes heaps of courage to recognize that we are in charge of our thoughts and our actions. When we recognize we are in charge of our thoughts we empower ourselves to move forward in a direction of hope knowing that where we are going everything will work out. We know that we have the power within us to overcome the challenges we will face. We know we can discard any thoughts that discourage us or make us question our ability. Discard all thoughts that do not lead you forward. Embrace all thoughts that empower you.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Awareness of Our Thoughts is a First Step

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Becoming Aware

James Allen in his book, “As a Man Thinketh, says, “Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits; thus does a man garner in the sweet and bitter fruitage of his own husbandry.” Pp. 10-11

As a Man Thinketh is available online at gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.

NOTE: When we come to the awareness that we are responsible for our actions and no one else is, we can begin to make decisions that increase our success and happiness. Attributing blame to others for what we do is an excuse where we try to remove responsibility from ourselves. Awareness of our thoughts is the beginning of wisdom.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Walking Without Purpose

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Ruminating on a Walk

Thoreau writes in “Walking,” “But the walking of which I speak has nothing in it akin to taking exercise . . . as the swinging of dumb-bells or chairs; but is itself the enterprise and adventure of the day.  If you would get exercise, think of a man’s swinging dumb-bells or his health, when those springs are bubbling up in far-off pastures unsought by him! Moreover, you must walk like a camel, which is said to be the only beast which ruminates when walking.  When a traveler asked Wordsworth’s servant to show him her master’s study, she answered, “Here is his library, but his study is out of doors.” P. 738

Walking is available online and gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.

NOTE: Ruminating along our walk is almost counter cultural. How can we measure how fast we’re walking if we stop to smell a flower or watch a bird feed its young? I recall walking with a friend in a natural setting. All my friend could talk about was work, work, and more work. My friend did not see the array of wild flowers. Nor did my friend see the Mexican blue bird that flew in front of us. And, my friend missed seeing the  two deer that were watching us. My friend didn’t relax. I think my friend would have felt much better if my friend took time to ruminate on our walk and enjoyed everything that the walk offered to us.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Getting Outside is Good for the Spirit

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Let the Sun Shine

Thoreau writes in “Walking,” “I, who cannot stay in my chamber for a single day without acquiring some rust, and when sometimes I have stolen forth for a walk at the eleventh hour or four o’clock in the afternoon, too late to redeem the day, when the shades of night were already beginning to be mingled with the daylight, have felt as if I had committed some sin to be atoned for.” Pg. 736

Walking is available online and gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.

NOTE: When I read this passage I felt that Thoreau was speaking of me. I’ve always been an early riser. Once I wake, the sooner i get out of the house the happier I am. It may be one reason I moved to South Texas. I love the sunshine. If I go two or three days without sunshine I begin to get antsy. I recall extended periods of cloudiness when I lived in a northern climate and my joy when the sun returned. There is something to getting outside and letting one’s feet touch the earth and one’s eyes seeing the beauty that has always surrounded us.

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