Yo Guys! Welcome back to Wisdom of the Week. Today, we’re discussing the poet philosopher, James Allen.
“Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits; thus does a man garner in the sweet and bitter fruitage of his own husbandry.”
The heart of what Mr. Allen is getting to here is that our thoughts, and as an extension our mindsets, are creatures of habit. He’s expressing just how massively important it is to shape your thoughts in the direction you desire; and he’s expressing his total confidence that we indeed have the ability and duty to do so.
I really love this because James is placing the burden of your happiness upon yourself. Something I often say is “Live focused not upon having fun, but making fun.” Happiness is, in everyday cases, not some ephemeral state that comes and goes like the sunshine, but a set of actions and thoughts that one is able to decide to have. Of course, like all things, it is momentum driven. And so it will take time to lean your mindset in that direction, but James and I have the total confidence in your ability to shape the way you think. A cool tip I’ve found is to print out a little notecard covered in the happy thoughts you wish you would remember, and then laminate it. Keep it with you in your pocket, and from time to time, pull it out and remind yourself to be joyous. James also writes “A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of his thoughts.” And so go forth and establish this new habit of happiness. We believe in your ability, now it’s your turn.