Of Thought, Thinking and Thinkers

What are you thinking? This emblematic question reminds me of the timeless principle of thought, which states that ‘as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he’.rnTrue! A man is literally what he thinks, and is character is the complete sum of all his thoughts. The life you live today is as a result of the thoughts you entertained yesterday. To live a different life tomorrow, you have to change your thoughts today. According to the classical author, James Allen, ‘a man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind. Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong and impure thoughts, and cultivating towards perfection, the flowers and fruits of right, useful and pure thoughts’. As individuals and a nation, we must learn that we cannot grow beyond the quality of our thought. Yet, i have observed that one reason we are still where we are is because we desire to change the situation without changing our thoughts. I once read that the battle for control and leadership of the world has always been waged most effectively at the idea (thought) level. An idea, whether right or wrong, that captures the minds of a nation’s youth will soon work its way into every area of the society, especially our multi-media age. Ideas (thoughts) determine consequences. It is only when we make the right changes to our thinking do other things begin to turn out right. Remember that your thought influences your attitude; your attitude determines your altitude, and influences your behaviour and character. To change your altitude, change your thoughts. It is essential for us to note that everything begins with a thought. Everything we see today began as a thought. What we think determine what we do; what we do is a determinant of who we are. The truth is that we can change the quality of life we live by changing the way we think. Finally, I challenge you to take up the challenge of becoming a skilled thinker, which will make you face a battery of hitherto unanswered question and change your perspective to series of unquestioned answer. This challenge of critical thinking provides the impetus for reformulating our view of the world; through it, we can appreciate the intellectual work required to change our thinking and our lives in fundamental ways. Through it, we can grasp the need to regularly re-examine the extent of our ignorance. Through it, we can grasp the need for regular exercise of disciplined thought, and through it, we can understand the long-term nature of intellectual development, social change, personal growth and transformation. Start thinking right, keep growing!