Author: Craig Lock
Email: clock (@) paradise.net.nz
"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."
* Summary of (and extracts from) the classic book 'As a Man Thinketh' (by James Allen)
# Chapter One:
THOUGHT AND CHARACTER Man is made or unmade by himself. A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts. "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." "All that we achieve and all that we fail to achieve is the direct result of our own thoughts." ACTION is the blossom of thought "He that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened"; for only by patience, practice, and ceaseless importunity can a man enter the Door of the Temple of Knowledge."
# Chapter Two:
THE EFFECT OF THOUGHT ON CIRCUMSTANCES A 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. Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts, By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master gardener of his soul, the director of his life. Thought and character are one. Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results. Bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results “You will be what you will to be; Let failure find its false content In that poor word, "environment, " But spirit scorns it, and is free. It masters time, it conquers space; It cows that boastful trickster, Chance, And bids the tyrant Circumstance Uncrown, and fill a servant's place. The human Will, that force unseen, The offspring of a deathless Soul, Can hew a way to any goal, Though walls of granite intervene. Be not impatient in delay, But wait as one who understands; When spirit rises and commands, The gods are ready to obey.”
# Chapter Three:
THE EFFECT OF THOUGHT ON HEALTH AND THE BODY The body is the servant of the mind It 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 the command of glad and beautiful thoughts it becomes clothed with youthfulness and beauty. Disease and health, like circumstances, are rooted in thought.
# Chapter Four:
THOUGHT AND PURPOSE Until thought is linked with PURPOSE there is no intelligent accomplishment. With the majority the bark of thought is allowed to "drift" upon the ocean of life. Aimlessness is a vice, and such drifting must not continue for him who would steer clear of catastrophe and destruction. They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to worries, fears, troubles, and self-pityings, all of which are indications of weakness, which lead, just as surely as deliberately planned sins (though by a different route), to failure, unhappiness, and loss, for weakness cannot persist in a power-evolving universe. The weakest soul, knowing its own weakness, and believing this truth - that strength can only be developed by effort and practice, will at once begin to exert itself, and adding effort to effort, patience to patience, and strength to strength, will never cease to develop, and will at last grow divinely strong. Purpose, energy, power to do, and all strong thoughts cease when doubt and fear creep in.
# Chapter Five:
THE THOUGHT FACTOR IN ACHIEVEMENT A man can only rise, conquer, and achieve by lifting up his thoughts. He can only remain weak, and abject, and miserable by refusing to lift up his thoughts, thoughts which he CHOOSES. All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts.
# Chapter Six:
VISIONS AND IDEALS Columbus cherished a vision of another world, and he discovered it. Copernicus fostered the vision of a multiplicity of worlds and a wider universe, and he revealed it. Buddha beheld the vision of a spiritual world of stainless beauty and perfect peace, and he entered into it. "He who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart, will one day realize it." "Cherish your visions. Cherish your ideals. Cherish the music that stirs in your heart. Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become." They do not see the trials and failures and struggles which these men have voluntarily encountered in order to gain their experience. They have no knowledge of the sacrifices they have made, of the undaunted efforts they have put forth, of the faith they have exercised, that they might overcome the apparently insurmountable, and realize the Vision of their heart. They do not know the darkness and the heartaches; they only see the light and joy, and call it "luck"; do not see the long and arduous journey, but only behold the pleasant goal, and call it "good fortune"; do not understand the process, but only perceive the result, and call it "chance."
# Chapter Seven:
SERENITY The calm man, having learned how to govern himself, knows how to adapt himself to others; and they, in turn, reverence his spiritual strength, and feel that they can learn of him and rely upon him. The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. That exquisite poise of character which we call serenity is the flowering of life, the fruitage of the soul. It is precious as wisdom, more to be desired than even fine gold.. How insignificant mere money-seeking looks in comparison with a serene life - a life that dwells in the ocean of Truth, beneath the waves, beyond the reach of tempests, in the Eternal Calm! Say unto your heart, "Peace, be still!" Think good healthy positive thoughts Do good Get good. Submitted and shared by "do gooder" Craig Lock ("Information and Inspiration Distributor, Incorrigible Encourager and People-builder" ) "Man is mind and evermore he takes the tool of thought and, shaping what he wills, brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills. He thinks in secret and it comes to pass - Environment is but his looking glass." - anon Thanks so much for sharing, dad "The definition of success: To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition.; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived... this is to have succeeded." - Ralph Waldo Emerson???? The Special Person You Were Meant to Be "If you can value truth above approval, and friendship over power, wealth, or fame, If you can share your gifts wisely, leaving someone better off than when you came, If you find happiness, simple pleasures, and see the rainbow, not the falling rain , If you have faith to keep on believing in miracles that no one can explain, If you live every day to your potential and find the goal in everything you see, Then you'll be, not just happy and successful, but the person only you were meant to be." - anon "Dare To Believe... That you are a wonderful unique person. That you are a once-in-all- history event. That it's more than a right, it's your duty, to be who you are. That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish, and you'll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down. " - Author Unknown "Be all that you are capable of being" "I believe that God creates us with different gifts; so that in life's journey each one of us, experiences challenges, things that give us joy and using our gifts allow us to bless the world around us."
About the author: Craig has been learning and studying the 'workings' of the human mind, the 'last unexplored continent', for much of his life. He believes in sharing information, insights and 'principles' to help and especially encourage people to make the most of their minds along life's magical journey ... and that brings him the greatest joy.
http://www.selfgrow th.com/experts/ craig_lock. html
http://www.craigloc kbooks.com The various books that "Craig felt inspired to write" are available at: http://www.myspace. com/writercraig
www.lulu.com/ craiglock
http://www2. webng.com/ writernz/
"He who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart, will one day realize it." "Cherish your visions. Cherish your ideals. Cherish the music that stirs in your heart. Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become."
