Loving thoughts
“Loving and unselfish thoughts crystallize into habits of self-forgetfulness for others, which solidify into circumstances of sure and abiding prosperity and true riches.”
— James Allen
Reflection
Loving and unselfish thoughts, James Allen says, crystallize into generous and beautiful deeds. The outer acts we admire in others—patient listening, sacrificial giving, quiet service—begin long before anyone sees them. They are born in an inner world that has learned to think of others with warmth and goodwill.
Selfish thinking narrows life. It constantly asks, “How does this affect me? What do I get?” Over time, that mindset breeds loneliness, because relationships cannot thrive where everything is weighed on the scales of personal advantage. Loving thought does the opposite. It asks, “How can I bless? What does this person need? How would I feel in their place?”
You may not always know the perfect action, but when your thoughts are habitually kind, helpful responses come more naturally. You become quicker to encourage, slower to take offense, more eager to share time and resources. The beauty others see on the outside is simply the overflow of a heart that has been practicing love in secret.
Allen reminds us that we cannot fake this for long. Deeds eventually reveal the quality of our thinking. If we desire a more loving life, we must first cultivate more loving thoughts.
And that’s worth thinking about.
— Vic Johnson
Putting It Into Practice
- Choose one person today and deliberately think through what might encourage or ease their burden.
- Perform a simple act of kindness anonymously and let the joy of giving be your only reward.
- When irritation arises, pause and imagine how the situation looks from the other person’s perspective.
One Question To Ponder
If someone judged your love not by your feelings but by your thoughts, what would they conclude?
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