As A Man
Thinketh
by
James Allen
Rewritten and
translated into more modern terms
by
Greg Folsom
Chapter 3
Effect of Thought on Health and the Body
The body is the servant of the mind. It
obeys the mind, whether it gives deliberate or unconscious commands. When we
think negative thoughts, the body sinks rapidly into disease and decay; at the
command of glad and beautiful thoughts it is clothed with youthfulness and
beauty.
Disease and health, like circumstances, are
rooted in thought. Sickly thoughts will express themselves through a sickly
body. Thoughts of fear have been known to kill a man as speedily as a bullet,
and they are continually killing thousands of people just as surely though less
rapidly. The people who live in fear of disease are the people who get it. Anxiety
quickly demoralizes the whole body, and lays it open to the entrance of
disease. Impure thoughts will shatter the nervous system.
Good, pure, and happy thoughts build up the
body in vigor and grace. The body is a delicate instrument, which responds
readily to the thoughts it receives, and habits of thought will produce their
own effects, good or bad, upon it.
We will continue to suffer sickness and
disease as long as we cultivate unclean thoughts. From out of a clean heart
comes a clean life and a clean body. Out of a corrupt mind proceeds a corrupt
life and tainted body. Thought is the fountain of action, life and
manifestation of reality. Make the fountain pure, and all will be pure.
Change of diet will not help a person that will
not change their thoughts. When we make our thoughts pure, we no longer desire
impure food.
If you would perfect your body, guard your
mind. If you would renew your body, beautify your mind. Thoughts of malice,
envy, disappointment, and despair, rob the body of its health and grace. A
sour face does not come by chance; it is made by sour thoughts. Wrinkles
that alter our appearance are drawn by stupidity, passion, and egotism.
I know a woman of ninety-six who has the
bright, innocent face of a girl. I know a man well under middle age whose face
is drawn into hideous contours. One is the result of a sweet and sunny
disposition; the other is the outcome of rage and discontent.
You cannot have a healthy house unless you
open the windows and let in sunshine and fresh air. Therefore, you can’t have a
strong body and mind, unless you open your heart and let in the sunshine and
fresh air of serene and joyous thoughts.
On the faces of the elderly, are wrinkles
made by sympathy, some by strong and pure thought, others are carved by rage.
Who can’t tell the difference? With those who have lived righteously, age is
calm, peaceful, and softly mellowed, like the setting sun. I have recently seen
a philosopher on his deathbed. He was not old except in years. He died as
sweetly and peacefully as he had lived.
There is no physician like cheerful thought for dissipating the ills of the body; there is no comforter to compare with good will for dispersing the shadows of grief and sorrow. To live continually in thoughts of ill will, cynicism, suspicion, and envy, is to be confined in a self-made prison. But to think well of all, to be cheerful with all, to patiently learn to find the good in all - such unselfish thoughts are the very portals of heaven; and if you dwell day to day in thoughts of peace toward every creature, you will bring abounding peace to your life and those around you.
