You Are Your Thoughts

"The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart - this you will build your life by, and this you will become." - James Allen

Who said it

James Allen is a British writer that gained fame through his books with inspirational themes. Allen also wrote poetry dealing with the same subjects. Allen is the author of “As a Man Thinketh”, book that is considered a classic in the self-help section. His words and ideas served as inspiration for people all over the world and Allen’s works are considered to have influenced the New Thought movement.

What it means

The quote is the summary of what “As a Man Thinketh” is all about. The central idea is that it’s a man’s thought that makes the man, pretty much like what a man eats makes up his constitution. This quote is similar to what ancient Greek philosophers has said about virtue, where virtuous men have virtuous thoughts, and vile men have vile thoughts. Allen simply looked at the other side of it, where one should think of positive and noble thoughts to give birth to a noble character and personality. Here, the focus is how thoughts can become reality, and how powerful the human psyche can be in shaping one’s personality and attitude. This also becomes an advice for caution; one must also be guarded against negative thoughts as dwelling on them can lead to a misfortune and an unfavorable reality for those who hold them.