YOU
ARE WHAT YOU THINK
By
RUTH BARRICK GOLDEN
“What do you think?” is often used as a rhetorical
question. But it is used here in all seriousness, since this is a most
important question in your life and in mine; for what we think determines what
we are!!!
“As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” You have
probably read or heard this statement hundreds of times, but have you ever
really absorbed and appropriated the secret of these few words to your own use?
If so, you have within your power a magic
formula more valuable than all the gold in Fort Knox!!
By your thoughts you are daily, even, hourly, building
your life just as surely as the mason builds a wall by placing brick upon
brick, stone upon stone. By your thoughts you are erecting the temple of your
life; you are carving your destiny, as the sculptor with his chisel and hammer;
chip by chip, creates the finished statue from a block of marble or from a
rough stone.
With the implement of thought you are the architect or
builder of your own life, the sculptor of the finished product of you. The question
arises as to how these implements are used to produce such a priceless product,
such a marvelous result.
In Hebrews it is written: “By faith we understand that
the worlds have been formed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not
been made out of things which appear.” Emmett Fox once stated, “In the Bible
the ‘word’ means any definitely formulated thought.” Like a sculptor or builder,
you do not create the materials but you do select and shape them into whatever
you wish. This you do through the implementation of thought. How important it
is then that you be careful and discriminating in selecting your thoughts(or
tools) for the building of a great and worthy life!
“As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” No one can
have good, clean thoughts. If your aim is nobility, you must have noble
thoughts. If your desire is to be of service, you must think of ways in which
you can serve others. If you want to be a radiant and beloved individual, you
must be a loving, kind, generous, and appreciative person. If you want to know joy
and peace of heart, then you must think and try to maintain a joyous, peaceful
spirit.
“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are lovely..... think on these things,” Paul wrote to
the Philippians. The form of the word think, as used here, literally means “keep
on thinking.” Keep on thinking
constructive and uplifting thoughts.
Do not be filled with ambition and energy today, and
then tomorrow give way to thoughts of depression and listlessness. Do not be
loving, kind and generous in the morning, and in the evening indulge in a fit
of temper or allow yourself to criticize or condemn a friend, associate, or
even someone you do not know—perhaps a leader of world affairs. Deliberately
and constantly cultivate high and worthy thoughts.
By thoughts, you may say, are invisible and fleeting,
coming without your consent from you know not where, and vanishing without your
control into nothingness, as if they have never been. Thoughts are indestructible,
as real as radio and television waves, as powerful as life, and they are never
lost. While it is true that thoughts may come unbidden, you can cast out those
that are harmful and substitute good thoughts instead.
For instance, if you have a fleeting unkind thought
about someone or situation, you can immediately reject it by thinking of
some good quality in that person, or some good in the situation. There is a
proverb that says that you may not be able to keep the birds from alighting on
your head, but you can prevent their building nests in your hair.
Through your God-given power of choice, you can control
your thinking. In this realm you are absolutely free, regardless of your
surroundings or circumstances. The good thought that you formulate and cherish
within the holy of holiest that is your inner soul, will bring peace, power, happiness, and character. And negative thoughts will produce the opposite-fear,
uneasiness, discord, and sickness.
There are methods you can use to strengthen your ability
to think only dynamic and spiritual thoughts. One is to repeat silently (alphabetically,
if that helps you in this exercise) affirmative and constructive words such as
alertness, ability, ambition, accuracy, beauty, bravery, confidence,
concentration, courage, determination, diligence, efficiency, economy,
enthusiasm, faith fearlessness, fairness, goodness, gratitude, honesty, honour
and so on. To repeat and or weakness, but will also give you inner confidence
and inspiration.
In a similar way favourite Bible passages and dynamic
affirmations of Truth may be repeated. There are words of Jesus, “Ask
whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done,” “Ye shall know the truth and the
truth shall make you free,” or perhaps you prefer the 23rd and 91st
Psalms or affirmations like the following: I choose to give power in my mind
only to thoughts that produce good results in my life and affairs, I use my
God-given power of choice to think only good thoughts.
Pause often to give thanks and praise for the goodness
and blessings that are yours. Nothing makes for a more dynamic mental
discipline than this habit. Cultivate this form of prayer. It will give you
inner happiness and outer glow. The boy or girl who is truly grateful and
thankful will feel and radiate a spirit of deep and abiding optimism and joy, and
these are unfailing magnets of well-deserve popularity!
There is especially uplifting thrilling, and powerful
song:
“Praise God that God is everywhere;
Praise to the Love we all may share;
The life that thrills in you and me;
Praise to the Truth that sets us free.”
Try singing it or silently repeat the words often.
Periods of meditation are necessary for spiritual
growth. Cultivate the habit of observing a prayer period each day, a time of
stillness and silence, for your best thoughts often come to you and are
developed in solitude and prayerful meditation. In this outer and inner
stillness you can best hear the voice of God and feel the guidance of Spirit.
Train yourself to find moments of stillness
the last thing at night before falling asleep and first thing upon waking in
the morning. This perhaps will be the time you most deeply realise the presence
and power and peace of God.
Keep the door of your mind closed to every depressing
or unkind thought. Cultivate thoughts of cheerfulness, helpfulness, reverence,
nobility. The eternal mind of God is constantly pouring forth perfect spiritual
ideas for your use- for your guidance, enlightenment, protection, and happiness.
Accept and think on these!
Thanking
my Guru J.P.VASVANI and “East and West Magazine”
