One of my favorite little books of wisdom is "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen.

The theme of the book is the power of our thoughts. Below is one of my favorite passages, which I memorized years ago:

"Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, a man ascends to Divine Perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character, and man is their maker and master.

Of all the beautiful truths pertaining to the soul which have been restored and brought to light in this age, none is more gladdening or fruitful of divine promise and confidence than this — that a man is the master of his thought, the moulder of his character, and the maker and shaper of his condition, environment, and destiny."

How do you interpret this passage? What impact did it make on you? How can living by it help you live a greater life?

I'd love to hear your comments and experiences, so feel free to leave a useful comment. I also encourage you to get the book and read it—often. It's about $6 and can be read through in about an hour, though you might want to take longer to digest all the amazing ideas in it.

Smile Often. Laugh Daily. Dream Big. Live Fully,