Recently I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to relax, read, think, and gather my thoughts. Being a full time student and being involved in campus organizations can become very consuming, and in my experiences it is very easy to become lost in it all. Ones thoughts have to be strong, in order to block certain things out and stay the course – I will elaborate on this thought of staying the course throughout this article and I will do so by highlighting a couple of books I have begun to read: As a Man Thinketh by James Allen and Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse.
An excerpt from As a Man Thinketh says this:
“THE aphorism, 'As a man thinketh in his heart so is he,' not only embraces the whole of a man's being, but is so comprehensive as to reach out to every condition and circumstance of his life. A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.”
To put this in my own words so folks know that this is my blog and not just reposted quotes – A man's actions are a result of his thoughts. No action a man takes is not related directly to his own thoughts. Which leads me into a quote I just read from Siddhartha:
"...When you throw a stone into the water, it finds the quickest way to the bottom of the water. It is the same when Siddhartha has an aim, a goal. Siddhartha does nothing; he waits, he thinks, he fasts, but he goes through the affairs of the world like the stone through the water, without doing anything, without bestirring himself; he is drawn and lets himself fall. He is drawn by his goal, for he does not allow anything to enter his mind which opposes his goal. That is what Siddhartha learned from the Samanas. It is what fools call magic and what they think is cause by demons. Nothing is cause by demons; there are no demons, Everyone can perform magic, everyone can reach his goal, if he can think, wait and fast."
The above quote is found in Hesse's book.
I believe that everyone has an image of who they want to be but that does not always line up with who they are or I guess come off to other people as to who they are, which is probably more important anyway. Other people's perception identify who a person is. Anyway, the reason I think people's thought of who they want to be does not always line up with who they are perceived is because they allow themselves to be molded and influenced by outside circumstances, instead of taking control of their circumstance. I believe people do not put much thought into the discipline it takes to stay the course of their original thoughts and plans. Eventually, it becomes routine to listen to others and not ones self.
With that being said it is real important to adhere to what my man Siddhartha said above, "He is drawn by his goal, for he does not allow anything to enter his mind which opposes his goal." I really think that is the key to being happy. To discipline your own mind to identify and filter the things that do not belong, which also means one must really know ones self. "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." I don't know who to credit the quote to, but everyone has heard it.
I was searching for another quote but I did not find it so I am going to take it as it just does not exist yet, which means from this moment forward I own it. Lol. A man with character knows how to say no. There is nothing wrong with rejecting a situation.
As a Man Thinkenth spoke on circumstance and it spoke about how a persons actions in every circumstance is a result of their thoughts. How a person responds to a circumstance is a result of the way they think. A persons response to circumstance creates certain results. MEANing that the results of every circumstance that we face is caused by our own thoughts. Which would ultimately mean, one is control of his own life.
Was that as deep as I thought it was? Anyway, my moral is take control of your life by taking control of your thoughts. Spike Lee almost had it right when he said "Do The Right Thing." I think the correct saying should have been "Think the right way" (I call ownership rights to this quote also). I leave this article with a quote I found online while looking for that other one I could not find previously. I think it is very fitting. Feel free to comment/share. Til next time.
Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become your character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
-Lao Tze
It's so crazy that I ended up scrolling & reading your blog. I woke up all early and randomly (being that I am done with finals), and one of my first thoughts was that I need to be doing more. I feel a tad bit stagnant and in a rut as if I'm not REALLY in control of my own future. So it's just ironic that I saw this post. Interesting thoughts if I may say so myself. Also, very coincidental, if one believes in coincidences.
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