Cum gândește omul

James Allen’s Cum gandeste omul looks at how thoughts shape life. They shape our character and choices, he says. He argues that new ways of thinking can change lives. This short self-help essay is for those who seek purpose and joy. It also speaks to those who seek relief from sorrow. It takes a spiritual view of thought and personal duty.

Allen likens the mind to a garden that needs care. He says we can tend good thoughts and root out harmful ones. In his view, thoughts lead to acts. They also help shape the conditions of our lives. Events show our character; they do not create it. Wealth alone does not bring joy. Being poor does not rule it out. He also holds that love can ease pain and sorrow.

The essay links thought with health, purpose, effort, and success. Allen claims that habits of thought affect both body and mood. He sees fear and doubt as blocks to clear thought. A firm aim helps people avoid worry and self-pity. He says we must give things up to make progress. We must also keep our base desires in check. He says the same rules guide success in business and study. They guide success in spiritual life, too. Dreams need inner change and acts that match them. A change in outlook can change how others respond to us.

Allen was a British writer and thinker who studied life’s deep questions. He lived from 1864 to 1912. Born into wealth, he lost his father at fifteen. He left school and took office work. From 1902, he gave his time to writing. Much of his life remains unclear. Lev Tolstoi helped shape his plain style. This is a translation of As A Man Thinketh.