“As a man thinks, so is he; as he continues to think, so he remains.” – As A Man Thinketh

This is the cornerstone of James Allen’s philosophy and the great masters down through time have all agreed. Earl Nightingale called it “the strangest secret” and Napoleon Hill wrote in Think and Grow Rich that “riches begin with a state of mind.”

Looking deeper at James Allen’s quote, we realize that what we create through our thoughts is a belief system, and that belief system is ultimately what determines whether we live a successful life.

If our belief system says we’re fat because we were constantly told that as a child, or because over time we’ve developed that belief system, no amount of dieting or exercise will work to sustain permanent weight loss. Even though great discipline and sacrifice may shed some pounds, they’ll eventually be regained.

The same goes for any shortcoming. Just pick one. Procrastination, tardiness, lack of follow through, fear of failure; they’re all “qualities” that started in our thoughts, became entrenched in our belief system, and now are obstacles to building a better life.

Obviously the key to changing our belief system is changing our thoughts. Orison Swett Marden wrote in How to Get What You Want, “Stop thinking trouble if you want to attract its opposite; stop thinking poverty if you wish to attract plenty. Refuse to have anything to do with the things you fear, the things you do not want.”

Instead we must think rightly about those things we want to attract. My friend, Mark Shearon, once posed a very enlightening question to a telephone audience, “Are you thinking about what you’re thinking about?” Read that sentence again and read it carefully. It’s not a play on words.

Marden goes on to write this passage about how much our thoughts influence the outcome of our life: “How often do we hear it said of some man, “Everything he undertakes succeeds,” or “Everything he touches turns to gold?” Why? Because the man is constantly picturing to himself the success of his undertakings and he is backing up his vision by his efforts. By clinging to his vision, by vigorous resolution and persistent, determined endeavor he is continually making himself a powerful magnet to draw his own to him. Consciously or unconsciously, he is using the divine intelligence or force by the use of which every human being may mold himself and his environment according to the pattern in his mind.”

And that’s worth thinking about.

“People do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.” — As A Man Thinketh

We recently received a very “unusual” email. The subscriber’s question was a simple “What can I do to be successful that doesn’t involve changing anything about who I am or how I think?”

My first response to the question was a hearty chuckle at the seeming naive-ness of the writer. The chuckle turned into sadness as I realized the pain the writer must feel at the thought of changing — wanting success but fearing change.

But the longer I thought about it, I realized that while most of us may never verbalize that question, our actions indicate that we believe that it is possible to achieve the success we desire without going through the necessary changes.

I know so many people who work very hard and diligently and sacrifice greatly in an effort to create wealth. But they haven’t undertaken the personal changes necessary to reach their goal. Until they begin to think and act like wealthy people they’ll never attract the wealth they seek. Wealthy people don’t think and act the way they do because they have wealth. They have wealth because they think and act that way.

The same goes whether the goal is weight loss, physical fitness, quitting smoking, etc. As long as you think and act like a smoker, you’re sure to keep smoking regardless of the patches, hypnosis, drugs or other cures you may seek. I know — I did it for 20+ years.

To put it another way: When you stop working on what it is you’re trying to get, and start working on YOU, only then will you get what it is you want. When you change, your results will change. Simple but true.

It really is very basic when you think about it. Jim Rohn says, “To attract attractive people, you must be attractive. To attract powerful people, you must be powerful. To attract committed people, you must be committed. Instead of going to work on them, you go to work on yourself. If you become, you can attract.”

And that’s worth thinking about.