Choosing thoughts wisely
“A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.”
— James Allen
Reflection
“A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.” With that sentence, James Allen both humbles and empowers us. You and I do not control everything that happens to us. But we do control the inner pattern of thinking that gradually influences what happens next.
We get into trouble when we reverse this equation. We spend our energy trying to rearrange external conditions while letting our thoughts run wild. We imagine that if we could just change locations, relationships, or jobs, then peace and purpose would automatically follow. Allen reminds us that unless the thinking changes, the same patterns will simply reappear in a new zip code.
Choosing thoughts wisely means paying attention to the quiet assumptions that drive your reactions: “Nothing ever works out for me.” “People always let me down.” “I’m just not that kind of person.” Those may feel like observations, but they function like marching orders to your mind. They tell your creativity, your courage, and your faith how far they are allowed to go.
When you begin to question those old assumptions and replace them with truer, higher thoughts, you are not engaging in fantasy. You are giving your life a new set of internal instructions. Circumstances may not change overnight, but the way you meet them does—and that shift, repeated over time, reshapes the path beneath your feet.
And that’s worth thinking about.
— Vic Johnson
Putting It Into Practice
- Write down one limiting belief you have carried about yourself or your life and challenge whether it is absolutely true.
- Craft a new, wiser thought that aligns with faith and possibility, and keep it visible where you will see it often.
- When circumstances frustrate you today, pause and ask, “What thought could I choose right now that would help me respond better?”
One Question To Ponder
If your circumstances slowly bend in the direction of your most repeated thoughts, what adjustments do those thoughts need today?
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