One of the great writers of his time was James Allen (1864-1912) He was a British philosopher and pioneer of the self-help movement. His book, As a Man Thinketh, is one of the most read books of that era. His brilliant approach to creating the best of life’s possibilities impacted the lives of many. If life is, at any given time a prison in which to labor or a garden in which to bloom, Allen eloquently moved his readers steadily toward the garden. I hope you enjoy these excerpts from his book, The Life Triumphant!
Every being lives in his own mental world. His joys and sorrows are the creations of his own mind, and are dependent upon the mind for their existence. In the midst of the world, darkened with many sins and sorrows, in which the majority live, there abides another world, lighted up with shining virtues and unpolluted joy, in which the perfect ones live.
This world can be found and entered, and the way to it is by self-control and moral excellence. It is the world of the perfect life, and it rightly belongs to man, who is not complete until crowned with perfection. The perfect life is not the faraway impossible think that men who are in darkness imagine it to be; it is supremely possible, and very near and real. Man remains a craving, weeping, sinning, repenting creature just so long as he wills to do so by clinging to those weak conditions. But when he wills to shake off his dark dreams and to rise, he arises and achieves.
For those who will fight bravely and not yield, there is a triumphant victory over all the dark things of life. There is no uncertainty about it. In the course of this book I shall show what are the elements, in character and conduct, which go to build up the life of calm strength and superlative victory.
To stand face to face with truth; to arrive, after innumerable wanderings and pains, at wisdom and bliss; not to be finally defeated and cast out , but ultimately to triumph over every inward foe – such is man’s divine destiny, such his glorious goal. And this, every saint, sage, and savior has declared.
In the present stage of the life of humanity, comparatively few reach this place of triumph – though all will reach it at last – yet there is a glorious company of perfect ones who have attained in the past, and their number is being added to with succeeding age. Men are as yet learners in the school of life, and most men die learners. But are some who, in the life, through fixity of purpose and strenuous fighting against darkness, pain, and ignorance, acquire a right knowledge of life and pass joyfully beyond the pupil stage
Faith is the gray dawn which precedes the full and perfect day of knowledge. Without it there can be no attainment of strength, no permanent security of heart. The man of faith does not succumb when difficulties present themselves; he does not despair when troubles overtake him. However steep and dark his path may seem, he looks forward to a brighter pathway ahead. He sees a destination of rest and light beyond. They who have no faith in the triumph of good ignominiously succumb to the elements of evil. And this must be so; for he who does not elevate good, elevates evil, and, seeing evil as the master of life, he receives the wages of evil. Faith bestows that sublime courage that rises superior to the petty and selfish disappointments and trouble of life, that acknowledges no defeat except as step to victory!
I truly hope these excerpts from the works of James Allen have been meaningful to you.