Thoughts as Things, Seeds, Destinies, and Definitions

copyright 2005 by William G. Covington, Jr. PhD

Thoughts might be intangible but they are real. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale wrote about the reality of these unseen forces and how managing them can have significant consequences. If you do not control your thoughts, you usually limit what goes on in your mind to whatever happens to be occurring in your environment.

Thoughts are real. What is meant by that statement if that thoughts are formations of energy in the brain. They exist even though they cannot be seen. Negative thoughts originating in fear, lust, insecurity, or other such sources prohibit one from contributing successfully to the achievement of a worthwhile objective. Fear paralyzes, lust focuses on consumption, and insecurity presents a false image of inferiority.

People who overcome such obstacles control their thoughts rather than allowing these negatives to hold them back. Ralph Waldo Emerson said of the focused mind, "There is no thought in any mind, but it quickly tends to convert itself unto a power, and organizes a huge instrumentality of means."

Thoughts are seeds. In Genesis, God talks about seeds reproducing after their kind. Thoughts do the same thing. Creative thoughts result in innovations, ideas and improvements. Growth thoughts lead to expansion, broadened horizons, and increased responsibility. Thoughts of kindness can be expected to reproduce civility, mutual respect, and a high regard for other people.

Just as planting comes before harvest, thoughts precede action. Behaviors flow out of one's thoughts. Planning comes from the broadcast of good thoughts scattered throughout the mind of the reflective person seeking a better way to get the desired results in life. This applies to any arena; personal and professional. It's a lifestyle.

Thoughts are destinies. "The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts, therefore guard accordingly; and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature," noted Marcus Antoninus. Thoughts are the map whereby you arrive at your destiny.

A student who seeks a college degree has the end in mind while pursuing studies. A writer who wants to complete a book sees the project finished as he works day by day page after page until the manuscript is though. A contractor who builds a facility painstakingly goes through each step in the process until the physical structure is visible. In each case, there is thought, follow-up and ultimately a destiny is reached.

Thoughts are definitions. You are defined by your thoughts. The Bible tells us as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. What you put in your mind will become manifested through your life. English philosopher Isaac Taylor put it this way, "Thinking, not growth, makes manhood. Accustom yourself, therefore, to thinking." Your thoughts define who you are in your own mind which has to take place before you can present that image to other people.

As you think the role, you do things expected of a person in that position. A positive self-fulfilling prophecy flows out of the mental image you have of the person you're becoming over time. You become the part as you act the role. Every professional was once an amateur. It was through education and perseverance that professional status was reached. It all grew out of a proper mindset.