Sharing the pointers from one the most recommended books of all time. Must read book!!
Circumstances does not make the man; it reveals him to himself. Men do not attract what they want, but that which they are. As a man Thinketh in his heart so is he. A man is literally what he thinks and his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts. Man is the master of thought, the molder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment and destiny.
Effect of Thought on Circumstances:
Loving and unselfish thoughts crystallizes into habits of self-forgetfulness for others.
A train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances.
A person cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.
Effect of Thought on Health and The Body:
The body is the servant of mind. Sickly thoughts will express themselves through a sickly body.
Thoughts of fear have been known to kill a man as speedily as a bullet.
Strong pure, and happy thoughts build up the body in vigor and grace. The body is a delicate and plastic instrument, which responds rapidly to the thoughts by which it is impressed.
Other more notable nuggets from book as follows:
The body obeys the operations of the mind, whether they be deliberately chosen or automatically expressed. At the bidding of unlawful thoughts, the body sinks rapidly into disease and decay, at command of glad and beautiful thoughts it becomes clothes with youthfulness and beauty.
Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment. As the physically weak man can make himself strong by careful and patient training, so the man of weak thoughts can make them strong by exercising himself in right thinking.
The Will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do. Doubt and fear are the great enemies of knowledge. He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure. His every thought is allied with power and all difficulties are bravely met and wisely overcome. His purposes are seasonably planted and they bloom and bring forth fruit which does not fall prematurely to the ground.
All that a man achieves and all that he fails is the direct result of his own thoughts. A man can only rise, conquer and achieve by lifting up his thoughts. Achievement of whatever kind is the crown effort, the diadem of thought. By the aid of self control, resolution, purity, righteousness, and well directed thought, a man ascends. A man may rise to high success in the world and even to lofty altitudes in the spiritual realm, and again descend into weakness and wretchedness by allowing arrogant, selfish and corrupt thoughts to take possession of him. Victories attained by right thought can only be maintained by watchfulness. Many give way when success is assured, and rapidly fall back into failure.
They who have no central purpose in life fall an easy prey to pretty worries, fears, troubles and self-pityings, all of which are indications of weakness. There can be no progress, no achievement without sacrifice. He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would strain highly must sacrifice greatly.
The dreamers are the spacious of the world, cherish your visions, cherish your ideals, cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind. Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day. You will receive that which you earn; no more, no less.
Whatever your present environment may be, you will fall, remain, or rise with your thoughts, your vision, your ideal. The strength of the effort is the measure of the result. CALMNESS of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom, it's the result of long and patient effort in self-control. The calm man, having learned how to govern himself, knows how to adapt himself to others. The more tranquil a man becomes, greater is his success.
Self-control is strength and Right thought is mastery: calmness is power. By right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the divine perfection, by the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character and man is their maker or master.
