In this 1902 self-help classic, James Allen explores the power of thought. Great thinkers throughout history have echoed this philosophy, which says that your thoughts influence your actions and shape your destiny. Throughout the short book, Allen discusses the various ways that thoughts manifest in reality and how to direct your thoughts in order to create the life you want.
Your thoughts shape your character, your character shapes your actions, and your actions shape your circumstances. Put simply, you are what you think. If generous and kindhearted thoughts dominate your internal monologue, that will define your character. That mindset then crystallizes into habits, and those habits produce your circumstances. In other words, you are not the product of your circumstances so much as your circumstances are the product of your thinking.
In addition to your mind and your circumstances, your thought patterns also dictate your health and, over time, they determine how your body ages. If you maintain a pessimistic attitude, the wrinkles in your face will form into a permanent scowl and your internal health will reflect a lifetime of hardship and poor mental and spiritual sustenance. By contrast, positive thoughts and goodwill toward others will help you to maintain strong physical health and a smooth aging process. A happy outlook encourages you to maintain healthy habits, which reinforces your physical and mental strength, creating a positive feedback loop.
People often struggle to change their circumstances, and all the while they never stop to address the root of their issue: their thoughts. When you understand the power of thought, you can become the master of yourself and your life. In order to alter your thought pattern:
Since both your successes and failures are of your own making, individual responsibility is paramount:
When you not only understand the power of thought, but also internalize and master it, you’ll reach a state of serenity. This serenity comes from knowing that the ups and downs of life are within your control. There’s no need to be anxious or angry about circumstances, or to feel as if you’re the victim of chaos and unpredictability—you have the key to control your destiny, and you’ve developed the mental strength to use it. Serenity is the ultimate treasure in life.
In this 1902 self-help classic, British philosophical writer James Allen explores the power of thought. Great thinkers throughout history have echoed this philosophy, which says that your thoughts influence your actions and shape your destiny. Throughout the short book, Allen discusses the various ways that thoughts manifest in reality, and how to direct your thoughts in order to create the life you want.
(Shortform note: The title of the book was inspired by the Bible verse, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he'' (Prov. 23: 7). The passage advises followers to be wary of the underlying thoughts, desires, and motivations of others, but Allen is using the verse to suggest readers examine their own inner thoughts.)
Allen became a published writer in the final decade of his life. In that time, he wrote 19 books and began publishing a spiritual magazine called The Light of Reason; after his death, his wife Lily continued to run the magazine, which was later renamed The Epoch. Allen was at the forefront of the self-help movement. His wife said that his writings reflected ideas that he had personally lived and strongly believed.
(Shortform note: For added clarity, we’ve merged the book’s seven chapters into two. Read our summaries of The Power of Now, The Power of Positive Thinking, and The Secret for more explorations of the power of thought.)
Your thoughts shape your character, your character shapes your actions, and your actions shape your circumstances. Put simply, you are what you think: Negative thoughts beget misfortune, while positive thoughts beget prosperity and fulfillment. This means that your thoughts mold both your inner world—your character and emotions—as well as your outer world—your circumstances and experiences.
If generous and kindhearted thoughts dominate your internal monologue, that will define your character. That mindset then crystallizes into habits, and those habits produce your circumstances. In other words, you are not the product of your circumstances so much as your circumstances are the product of your thinking.
However, a person’s circumstances do not necessarily reflect the entirety of her character—they could be the manifestation of one particular part of her character. As such, you can’t judge another person’s character based on her circumstances: The conditions of a person’s life and the intricacies of her character are so complex that no one besides that person can truly know them. A morally corrupt person can be rich, but you may not know her good qualities, or you may be ignorant of her private health problems. Similarly, a good-hearted person can face terrible circumstances, but you might not know her vices or the less obvious blessings she has.
When your thoughts produce challenging circumstances, those obstacles are not merely punishment—they are teaching tools. Learn from your hardships. Since your own thoughts created the challenges you face, those challenges are tailored to teach you the exact lessons you need to move past the thinking that created them. These lessons help you to grow as a person, which alters your thinking, which again changes your circumstances. This is true no matter your circumstances, because you learn from both hardship and happiness.
Just as thought molds your circumstances, it also dictates your health. If you’re constantly anxious, the burden of carrying that anxiety wears down your body and makes you more susceptible to disease. Over time, your thought patterns determine how your body ages. If you maintain a pessimistic attitude, the wrinkles in your face will form into a permanent scowl, and your internal health will reflect a lifetime of hardship and poor mental and spiritual sustenance.
By contrast, positive thoughts and goodwill toward others will help you to maintain strong physical health and a smooth aging process. A happy outlook encourages you to maintain healthy habits, which reinforces your physical and mental strength, creating a positive feedback loop. For example, if your thoughts are healthy and positive, you will want to eat nutritious food, and you’ll naturally avoid unhealthy foods. (Shortform note: Research supports the link between positive thinking and good health. The Mayo Clinic promotes positive thinking, citing benefits such as longer life span, better cardiovascular health, lower rates of depression, and stronger resistance to the common cold.)
Reflect on the lessons you can take away from the challenges you face.
Describe one hardship that you’ve recently dealt with or are currently facing.
Reflect on your thought process leading up to the development of this problem. How could your thoughts have contributed to this issue in the first place?
If you’re still dealing with this, how are your current thoughts exacerbating or helping the problem?
Think of how this hardship has stretched you and what you’ve had to do in order to resolve it. What lesson(s) can you extract from this experience?
Reflect on how your thoughts have impacted your physical health.
Describe a recent instance when you were physically sick.
What were your thoughts like in the time leading up to your illness? For example, were you dealing with stress, anxiety, or other negative thoughts?
What were your thoughts like when you started to notice that you were sick?
What could you do in the future when you notice yourself succumbing to negative thoughts? Or what could you do to inject positivity when you start to notice that your thoughts or your body are becoming unhealthy?
People often struggle to change their circumstances, and all the while they never stop to address the root of the issue: their thoughts. When you understand the power of thought, you can become the master of yourself and your life. And, once you create momentum as you move your thoughts and your life in a particular direction—whether positive or negative—the world will help you along. For example, if you harbor negativity and spew hate, you’ll get bitterness and hostility from those around you. But, if you release your negative thoughts and become more emotionally open to the world, people will become more receptive to you, creating a virtuous cycle.
Reflect on your past experiences, and trace them back to the thoughts that led to those realities. Seeing how your thoughts have impacted your life in the past will help motivate you to change your thoughts going forward. In order to alter your thought pattern, commit to deep introspection as well as a constant, deliberate effort to be purposeful with your thoughts. Eventually, positive thinking will become habitual.
(Shortform note: To explore this idea further, read our summary of Think and Grow Rich, which promotes positive thinking to achieve wealth and offers practices such as defining a goal, planning, visualization, and affirmation.)
In order to control your thought patterns, first, determine a purpose for your life—even if it’s just for now. Whether your purpose is a material or spiritual goal, make it your driving force. If you can’t come up with a greater purpose, focus on performing your duty (be it as a parent, employee, or some other role) as well as you possibly can. A purpose gives you a positive, productive place to center your thoughts, so that they don’t wander to fears, doubts, and self-pity.
Once you determine a purpose, achieving it will depend entirely on how well you uphold the strength and focus of your thoughts. In order to fulfill your purpose:
Since both your successes and failures are of your own making, individual responsibility is paramount. You can’t blame others for your circumstances if your circumstances are created by your thoughts, and you can only stay down if you allow your thoughts to keep you down. Even in the case of exploiters and the exploited, each is responsible for her plight. (Shortform note: This view may not factor in the role of inescapable systemic forces of oppression.)
Dream big. Even the biggest accomplishments started as mere dreams. Many inspiring and beautiful things in the world exist because people envisioned them, and then they came to fruition. Architects had to first dream of towering monuments and breathtaking cathedrals before they could build them. In your life, the only way to surpass your current reality is to dream up something new.
As with any purpose, when you have a dream, you must concentrate all of your thought on pursuing that goal. You won’t get there through dreams alone—those thoughts must bear action. Your relentless focus on this single vision will naturally inspire you to act in ways that will help you achieve that dream.
When you not only understand the power of thought, but also internalize and master it, you’ll reach a state of serenity. This serenity comes from knowing that the ups and downs of life are within your control. There’s no need to be anxious or angry about circumstances or to feel as if you’re the victim of chaos and unpredictability—you have the key to control your destiny, and you’ve developed the mental strength to use it.
In this serene state, others will gravitate toward you. Many people don’t know that they possess the power to take control of their life, and so, in this confusing world, they are drawn to people who possess an inner calm. As the depth and consistency of your serenity increases, so does your capacity to influence others and be a force of good for those around you, because they can look to you for calm and lean on you when they need strength. Serenity is the ultimate treasure in life.
Reflect on how your thoughts are shaping your life.
Describe one challenge you’re currently facing in your life.
When you think about this problem, how would you characterize your thoughts? Are they hopeful and determined, or discouraged and pessimistic?
How could you reshape those thoughts to be more positive?
Describe a strategy you can use to remind yourself to focus on these positive thoughts and to catch yourself when you slip into old negative thought patterns.
Even the grandest realities start as dreams.
Describe a recent accomplishment that you’re proud of.
Describe the initial thought or dream that became the seed of that accomplishment.
How did you think about that dream as you were pursuing it? For example, were you determined, or did you think it was only a vague possibility?
What is one thing you’re currently dreaming about?
How will you stay vigilant about keeping your thoughts positive as you pursue this dream?