You are today where your thoughts have brought you;
you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.
~ James Allen
In my youth, I had a recurring thought that one day I would live in a remote bucolic environment. The vision I created was that of a house with a long meandering tree-lined driveway.
Yet, when my husband proposed moving to a small town when our children were young, I resisted. I wanted to raise them in a cosmopolitan environment.
Although we had the privilege of living in bucolic communities, it took me a while to wrap my head around the remote aspect. I longed to commune with nature but my perception was that such a community would be too homogeneous for young minds.
This week a delivery person told me that when he looked up our current address on Google Maps he saw a very, very long driveway. It was then that I realized I had finally manifested the vision of my youth. I have my husband of 33 years today and his family to thank for that.
As I jotted this thought down in my gratitude journal, the James Allen quote I opened with came to mind, prompting me to peruse his book, As a Man Thinketh. In the Forward, I found the words captured in this blog’s title.
Here is the excerpt:
The mind is the master-weaver, both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstance, and that, as they may have hitherto woven in ignorance and pain they may now weave in enlightenment and happiness.
We can’t change what is at the moment. We can change the lens through which we see things over time. We can become less reactive and more responsive by monitoring our thoughts and the feelings they generate and replacing those that are wreaking havoc on our mind, body and current reality.
As a negative thought arises, notice it, brush it aside and replace it with a more empowering one. Practice this often and with patience. Focus on progress, not perfection.
When we have a higher purpose and feel divinely guided, we become fearless. We are not worrying about our brand or having our reputation tarnished. We are not concerned about fitting in or missing out. We do not have a victim story and feel the need to blame or make excuses. We recognize that our effort, no matter how small, has a ripple effect in creating the change we envision.
For as we thinketh in our heart, so are we.
~ Proverbs 23:7
Today, what gives me comfort is that, although mainstream media does not yet reflect it, a growing number of people who are doing the work to elevate thoughts and emotions are coming together to enhance our collective well-being.
James Allen wisely stated that we are the master of thought, the molder of character, and maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny.
Our salvation lies in our ability to bring out the best in people. What we think and believe we can achieve.
Comments