Cause And Effect And Thoughts
“Cause and effect is as absolute and undeviating in the hidden realm of thought as in the world of visible and material things.”
— James Allen
Reflection
Cause and effect is not just a law of physics; it is a law of the inner life. James Allen insists that thoughts are seeds and conditions are the crops they grow into. Most people reverse this. They look at difficult circumstances and assume they are victims of random fate or other people’s choices. Allen tells us to look upstream — to the thoughts that quietly set causes in motion.
This is uncomfortable, because it means we are more responsible for our experience than we like to admit. But it is also incredibly hopeful. If thoughts of resentment, self-pity, and fear can create a tangled harvest, then thoughts of faith, responsibility, and love can plant a different field.
Think about one area of life that keeps repeating a painful pattern — maybe finances, relationships, or health. Instead of only asking, “Why does this keep happening to me?” Allen would have us ask, “What causes — in my thinking, beliefs, or daily choices — might be producing this effect?” That question isn’t about blame; it’s about reclaiming creative power.
When you begin to align your thoughts with the outcomes you truly desire, you stop scattering mixed signals into your life. You accept that every cause has an effect — and you begin, patiently and persistently, to plant better causes.
And that’s worth thinking about.
— Vic Johnson
Putting It Into Practice
- Identify one frustrating pattern in your life and ask what recurring thoughts or beliefs might be feeding it.
- Write down a new, higher thought that matches the outcome you truly desire and review it several times today.
- Commit to one small, consistent action that aligns with this new way of thinking, and track it for the next week.
One Question To Ponder
What if the effect you most want to change in your life could begin shifting by changing a single cause in your thinking?
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