A little warning: today’s post is a bit different from the others. Weekends are great for reflection so I thought it would be a nice twist.

We are blessed with a conscience. It means that next to the things we do, we as humans are actually able to think about what we’re doing.

In As a Man Thinketh, James Allen writes about the mind. He basically says that we are not what we do, but that “every act of a man springs from the hidden seeds of thought”. This opens up the possibility to grow and learn, because we can influence our thoughts. We see this all around us: there are lots of people that think either too high or too low of themselves. This affects what they do. It affects the quality of their work.

Allen compares the mind to a garden: it can be cultivated, or allowed to run wild, but regardless it will bring forth results in the form of other thoughts and actions. We have the task to tend our garden: weed out the wrong, useless and impure thoughts. We need to veer towards right, useful and pure thoughts. Why? “Thoughts of doubt and fear never accomplished anything, and never can. They always lead to failure. All strong thoughts cease when doubt and fear creep in.”

People around you will notice this. The way you talk about your own work (Do you feel the need to defend? do you feel the desire to get lots of recognition?). How you manage others (Do you need to make sure people like you? Can you forgive mistakes? Can you help people get better without your ego standing in your way? Can you keep your negative thoughts of others to yourself or, even better, get rid of those thoughts altogether?).

Have a great Sunday!