<p>Allen (1864-1912) was a British mystic and philosopher, known for his inspirational books and poetry and as a pioneer of the self-help movement. Born in Leicester, England, to a working-class family, he left school at fifteen to support the family, after his father died. In 1903 he retired to devote himself to writing and moved with his wife and daughter to a small cottage in Devon, where he spent the rest of his life. As A Man Thinketh has influenced many contemporary writers and has inspired millions to recognize that our visions can become reality, simply through the power of thought.</p>

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James Allen

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<p class="text-justify lh-base" style="text-align: justify; ">Until thought is linked with purpose, there is no
    intelligent accomplishment. With the majority, the barque of thought is allowed to ‘drift’ upon the ocean of life.
    Aimlessness is a vice, and such drifting must not continue for him who would steer clear of catastrophe and
    destruction.</p>
<p class="text-justify lh-base">They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to petty worries,
    fears, troubles and self-pitying. All of these are indications of weakness, which lead, just as surely as
    deliberately planned sins (though by a different route), to failure, unhappiness and loss, for weakness cannot
    persist in a power-evolving universe.</p>
<p class="text-justify lh-base">A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart and set out to accomplish it.
    He should make this purpose the centralising point of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal or it
    may be a worldly object, according to his nature at the time being. But whichever it is, he should steadily focus
    his thought-forces upon the object which he has set before him. He should make this purpose his supreme duty, and
    should devote himself to its attainment, not allowing his thoughts to wander away into ephemeral fancies, longings
    and imaginings. This is the royal road to self-control and true concentration of thought.</p>
<p class="text-justify">Even if he fails again and again to accomplish his purpose (as he necessarily must until
    weakness is overcome), the strength of character gained will be the measure of his true success, and this will form
    a new starting point for future power and triumph.</p>
<p class="text-justify lh-base">Those who are not prepared for the apprehension of a great purpose should fix the
    thoughts upon the faultless performance of their duty, no matter how insignificant their task may appear. Only in
    this way can the thoughts be gathered and focused, and resolution and energy be developed, which being done there is
    nothing which may not be accomplished.</p>

<h4 class="fs-5 lh-lg"><em>Read the complete article in Issue 14 </em></h4>
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<h4 class="fs-5 lh-lg text-center">From <em>As a Man Thinketh</em> by JAMES ALLEN</h4>
<hr />

Thought and purpose

<h4><span style="color:#6B63A5;"><strong>JAMES ALLEN</strong></span><strong> is known for his simple and clear explanations of the human condition. In this excerpt from </strong><i><strong>As a Man Thinketh</strong></i><strong>, Allen explores the nature of thought and purpose.</strong></h4><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Until thought is linked with purpose, there is no intelligent accomplishment. With the majority, the barque of thought is allowed to ‘drift’ upon the ocean of life. Aimlessness is a vice, and such drifting must not continue for him who would steer clear of catastrophe and destruction.</p><p>They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to petty worries, fears, troubles and selfpitying. All of these are indications of weakness, which lead, just as surely as deliberately planned sins (though by a different route), to failure, unhappiness and loss, for weakness cannot persist in a power-evolving universe.</p><p>A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart and set out to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralising point of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal or it may be a worldly object, according to his nature at the time being. But whichever it is, he should steadily focus his thought-forces upon the object which he has set before him. He should make this purpose his supreme duty, and should devote himself to its attainment, not allowing his thoughts to wander away into ephemeral fancies, longings and imaginings. This is the royal road to self-control and true concentration of thought.</p><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#6B63A5;">The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do.</span><br><span style="color:#6B63A5;">Doubt and fear are the great enemies of knowledge,</span><br><span style="color:#6B63A5;">and he who encourages them, who does not slay them,</span><br><span style="color:#6B63A5;">thwarts himself at every step.</span></h4><hr><p>Even if he fails again and again to accomplish his purpose (as he necessarily must until weakness is overcome), the strength of character gained will be the measure of his true success, and this will form a new starting point for future power and triumph.</p><p>Having conceived of his purpose, a man should mentally mark out a straight pathway to its achievement, looking neither to the right nor the left. Doubts and fears should be rigorously excluded. They are disintegrating elements, which break up the straight line of effort, rendering it crooked, ineffectual and useless. Thoughts of doubt and fear never accomplished anything and never can. They always lead to failure. Purpose, energy, power to do, and all strong thoughts cease when doubt and fear creep in.</p><p>The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do. Doubt and fear are the great enemies of knowledge, and he who encourages them, who does not slay them, thwarts himself at every step.</p><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#6B63A5;">He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure.</span><br><span style="color:#6B63A5;">His every thought is allied with power, and all difficulties</span><br><span style="color:#6B63A5;">are bravely met and wisely overcome.</span></h4><hr><p>He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure. His every thought is allied with power, and all difficulties are bravely met and wisely overcome. His purposes are seasonably planted, and they bloom and bring forth fruit which does not fall prematurely to the ground.</p><h4 style="text-align:center;"><br>Chapter 4, <i>As a Man Thinketh,&nbsp;</i>1902</h4><hr>

Thought and Purpose

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<p style="text-align: justify;">Of all the beautiful truths pertaining to the soul which have been restored and brought
    to light in this age, none is more gladdening or fruitful of divine promise and confidence than this – that man is
    the master of thought, the moulder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment and destiny.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">As a being of Power, Intelligence and Love, and the lord of his own thoughts, man holds
    the key to every situation, and contains within himself that transforming and regenerative agency by which he may
    make himself what he wills.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Man is always the master, even in his weakest and most abandoned state, but in his
    weakness and degradation he is the foolish master who misgoverns his ‘household’. When he begins to reflect upon his
    condition, and to search diligently for the Law upon which his being is established, he then becomes the wise
    master, directing his energies with intelligence, and fashioning his thoughts to fruitful issues. Such is the
    conscious master, and man can only thus become by discovering within himself the laws of thought; which discovery is
    totally a matter of application, self analysis and experience.</p>

<h4><em>Read the complete article in Issue 14 </em></h4>
<h4><span style="color: #cc9a37;"><a style="color: #cc9a37;" href="//www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/subscribe/"
            target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SUBSCRIBE &amp; DOWNLOAD</a></span></h4>
<hr />

<h4 style="text-align: center;">From <em>As a Man Thinketh </em>by JAMES ALLEN</h4>
<hr />

James Allen

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