Lessons from As a Man Thinketh by James Allen

Hello! here’s a book that changed my perspective on the power of our thoughts. As a Man Thinketh by James Allen is over one hundred years old, but the knowledge expressed in the book is priceless. I want to list some of this book’s main points and lessons.

The Garden of Thy Mind

Think of your mind as a garden; and you are the gardener. Roses (positive thoughts) would bring beauty, and you need to cut off all the weeds which are your negative thoughts. According to James Allen, this is the same as accepting or believing in various ideas.

Every thought can also be visualized as a seed. Good thoughts get transformed into good things, whereas bad ones bring problems. It is so simple.

Jake, my friend, was usually concerned about the consequences. And all the ill fortune would nearly always be on his side! Life decided to reward him when he switched to solutions and sought to find solutions to problems rather than being focused on problems. Plants in his mental garden started to grow.

Lesson 1: You are What You Think

You are what you think, and one of my favorite quotes in the book is, “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.”

Your mind does not simply wander without any direction within the walls of your mind. They are already shaping your personality. And when you think brave thoughts, you are fearless. 

One of my former teachers said, “Watch your thoughts. They are your own words. Be careful of what you say, it will become what you do.” She was quoting James Allen, but after all, in a silly way!

The strong aspect is that we are fully entitled to do this. By selecting superior thoughts, we can actually create and reform our identity. This is a superpower that most people do not utilize.

Lesson 2: What You See Around You Is What You Are Inside

As Allen teaches, the situations that occur in your life are not accidental. Your thoughts are in line with your life.

This does not necessarily mean that only bad people experience bad things, but our thoughts guide what we focus on, how we react, and what we are willing to do. My cousin lost her job a year ago. The first thing she thought was: “This is terrible! I am a total failure!” All was dark. Her attitude was later metamorphosed to, “This is a chance to get something better!” In weeks, to her surprise, she had a new job which she enjoys much more than the old one. The situation was the same but she saw it from a different angle and had a different outcome.

Lesson 3: Your Thoughts Are Responded to by Your Health

We do not believe our bodies are more inclined to listen to our brains than vice versa. According to Allen, fear, anger, and worry are negative emotions that can cause us to be unwell. All these cause tension and stress that cost us our health.

It is also the case that the reverse is true: well-wishes and tranquility lead to a healthier life.

My grandfather never fell ill and lived to be 94 years old. His secret? He said, “I have no time to think negatively. It is just a waste of a good day.” 

Lesson 4: Purpose Gives the Thoughts Direction

Thoughts are like leaves blown by the wind unless there is a purpose. Nothing is being done, and there is no movement. A purpose, however, gives thoughts a structure to work in concert.

According to Allen, we must aim to achieve things that can build ourselves and others up. Self-seeking motives are usually empty in the long run.

In my community, there is a girl who was once ignorant of the opportunities in life until she found her niche in environmental protection. Everything about her life now, schoolwork, hobbies, and even her interactions, has a purpose. Instead of having the same thoughts on repeat like a broken record, her mind is active and focused. It appears that she has given a purpose to her life, and she is the happiest that I have ever seen her.

Lesson 5: Success is Through Purposeful Thinking

All major accomplishments start with an idea, such as the Wright brothers, who thought of flight and then created an airplane. On the same note, Edison had a vision of light and later discovered the lightbulb.

But according to Allen’s teaching, thinking is not enough. One should focus one’s thoughts on a focal point and then act. Drifting is effortless, and all it causes is stagnation, as things do not happen without effort.

As an example, my brother wanted to run a marathon. He did not just fantasize or imagine like most daydreamers, but he had a defined plan that involved sprinting, a nutrition plan, and endurance exercises. Six months later, he took pride in crossing the finish line after following his well-designed plan. His style was to think and then act.

Lesson 6: What You Say About Yourself is Very Important

The world of human experience is full of criticism. Self-criticism is a problem that many people have, which is even worse than any external remark. Allen indicates that this type of self-criticism negatively affects our reality.

Such a belief that you are not good enough will lead to finding evidence to prove that belief. When you say to yourself, “I am competent and developing,” evidence will also emerge.

A colleague of mine was also a victim of self-deprecating thoughts. He repeated the mantras: “I am so disorganized, and I cannot handle pressure.” He also had a problem with deadlines which was not a surprise. The improvement was dramatic as he started saying, “I am learning to be more organized,” and “Challenging myself one step at a time is helping me to cope with hurdles.” 

Lesson 7: Your Character is Made Up of Thoughts

The character you have is not built instantly. It is being carved by your thoughts. You promote truth, bravery, and even benevolence whenever the respective virtue is called into play.

According to Allen, developing an individual’s character should be done carefully, removing what is not beneficial and adding what is beneficial.

Although my neighbor was terrified by the thought of it, she worked as a volunteer in a homeless shelter. One of the affirmations that she carried with her all the time was, “I am someone who helps others.” This kind of action strengthened her character, solidifying the idea that character is a sculpture made by thoughts. Thoughts have created such a reality, and now she is one of the most selfless people I know.

Lesson 8: Suffering is Normally a Result of Our Thinking

Allen is especially connected to the idea of suffering. According to him, pain and suffering are more related to our thoughts and views than to situations that exist in our environment.

Take the example of two people who have the same problem. One of them says, “It is not right! Why me?” The second one thinks, “This is hard, but I can definitely learn something from it.” The former is usually the loser due to his outlook and approach.

My aunt and uncle lost their jobs as a result of corporate layoffs. My aunt went into depression as my uncle tried to cope with new opportunities. A year later, their lives changed, and they experienced even more changes simply because their original way of thinking had changed.

Lesson 9: Thoughts Have to be Controlled to Have Inner Peace

It may seem that finding inner peace is impossible when you are surrounded by noise. According to Allen, inner peace comes when we can control our thoughts, not vice versa.

It is not about having a hard and fast “think positive” approach. Instead, it is about being mindful in a soft way of directing your thoughts towards truth and wisdom.

I have a friend who is mindful because he pays attention to what he thinks during the day. When he realizes he is worrying or complaining, he questions, “Is this thought true? Does it do any good to me?” This small daily practice has given him more inner peace than years of trying to alter his external situation.

Lesson 10: Your Dreams Need Reflection

The book has an optimistic ending. According to Allen, our best imaginations about life are not impossible but rather visions that reveal what we can accomplish when we put our ideas into practice.

My friend always dreamed about writing a novel, but he always told himself, “I have no time, I am not talented enough.” After a few mental changes, such as: “I can write a little at a time,” “I have stories to tell,” he finished the book. His change of mind enabled him to accomplish his dreams.

The Unparalleled Simplicity of This Book

The peculiarity of As a Man Thinketh is its simplicity. In just a few pages, James Allen gives us the most important ingredient for changing our lives: mindfulness of thoughts.

It’s not about putting a smile on your face when you do not want to. It tries to value thinking and the proper treatment of thoughts.

The least that can be said about the beauty of the message embedded in what Allen is saying is that you are given the gift of autonomy. External circumstances may still be offered to you, but they only define your existence. However, how you perceive them is totally under your control, and the experience that is related to them changes.

It is a good book full of life-changing insights that somehow help us by referring to our thoughts as the rudder that guides us into the wilderness of life. You may not be in strong control of everything that happens, but you are in firm control of what you choose to think about, and that is all that counts in the end. And that is what makes the world turn.