Who is Driving my Vehicle Across this Plateau?

For the first several months, I consistently lost two pounds per week, exactly as planned.  Over the last month, I have hovered between 305 and 310 pounds with little change to my waistline. But, I have not stuck entirely with my plan.  My calorie intake has been over plan some days but on plan over half of the time.

The real problem seems to be that my mind is not in the game anymore.  I'm not wanting to think about what I am eating and don't want to take the time to count my calories.  I find myself grabbing energy dense foods (high carbohydrate & high sugar).  I know I shouldn't eat these foods but part of me just doesn't care.  My inner voice is saying, "You don't need this.  What are you doing?" but my silent driver continues with the action, ignoring my inner voice.  I know that I shouldn't but I do it anyway.  It feels as if I am watching someone else drive my body and actions.  Are there two minds at odds here?  Who the heck is in the drivers seat, ignoring my directions?  I am not a back-seat driver.  I want to be the captain of my ship, the navigator of my life.

Be Here Now

The mantra "Be Here Now" once meant to me that I should stay rooted in the present and not always yearning to move into the future nor dwelling on the past.  But, with technological advances in connectivity, I'm beginning to realize that this simple mantra applies equally to space as well as time.  "Here" is not just the present but also my location in physical space.  

Everywhere we go now days, people are on their cell phones, computers, and tablets.  Their attention is consumed with talking, texting, and Facebooking.  They are oblivious to the surroundings absorbed in what being said or typed elsewhere.  In the wrong setting, such as texting while driving, this may even be physically dangerous.  

About a year ago, I was given a BlackBerry smart-phone for use with work.  Since then, I keep catching myself reading work e-mails during my personal time.  Because of this smart-phone and convenient connectivity, I often find myself working when I should be focusing on my family and personal life.  Several times, I have even caught myself reading e-mails at my kid's soccer and baseball practice.  A few weeks ago, to remind myself to focus on the here and now, I put a soothing picture on my cell-phone's wall paper that contains the following message:

BE HERE NOW

So, when I am not at work and I pick up my cell phone, I see this message and realize that where I am is more important than what is going on at work.  Typically, when I see this message, I put the phone back in my pocket and focus on what is happening in my close vicinity.  The message is having the desired effect on my attention!

But, having "Be Here Now" plastered on my cell phone's wall paper is also having an unexpected result.  I originally put the message there to remind me while outside of work not to focus on work.  But, I continuously catch myself at work fiddling with my cell phone:  texting people and even reading Facebook.  The message "Be Here Now" means here and now no matter where I am.  The mantra is therefore is also helping me to stay more focused when I am working.  And honestly, when I am working my work deserves my full attention. 

The "Be Here Now" mantra on my phone was intended to keep work from encroaching into my personal life.  And it has accomplished this.  But, it is also keeping my on task at work.

2 Month Weight Loss Progress

I have been following a reduced calorie diet for two months now.  I have set my daily target of 1995 calories per day based on the Mifflin BMR calculation with an activity factor of 1.2 (mostly sedentary).  After three weeks of a weight stall accompanied with decreasing waistline, my scale weight has begun to drop again.  I have now lost a total of 29.4 pounds, over two thirds of which was in the first month.  My waistline has shrunk by 2.5 inches and my hips by 3 inches.  My "fat" clothes are not falling off of me yet but they are fitting much better than when I started this diet.

My wife is also following a reduced calorie diet but with a slightly smaller target calorie intake. She has lost 22.4 pounds so far.  And, yesterday she wore a perfectly fitting dress to church that had previously been too small.

In the past, I had used low-carb diets effectively (lost 85 pounds) and now I am using reduced calorie effectively.  As such, I am beginning the think that it doesn't much matter what method you choose to lose weight as long as you have the proper determination and persistence to stick with it.

Don't get me wrong though.  Nobody is perfect.  Living life to it's fullest means that you have to make room for special occasions and exceptions.  One of these for my wife and I was a wonderful dinner at the Loveless Cafe in Nashville.  Loveless, which has been featured on the food network many times, is world famous for it's biscuits and fried chicken.  I'm pretty sure that they use lard in the biscuits and for frying and I'd hate to even take a guess at how many calories we consumed that night.  Having one dinner there is not cheating.  Exceptions are part of life.  If I were to frame this as cheating then it would eat away at my will power.  Instead, I choose to see it as one of life's rewards.  It's simply a matter of maintaining balance.  And, the fact that we have continued to lose weight despite a few such nights is evidence that we are indeed restoring balance.

Have you ever seen a miracle?

Have you ever seen a miracle?  No!  Then imagine... that you are looking down, from some high window, upon the lights of a great city.  Lights radiating far as the eye can reach:  double rows of lights delineating streets; moving lights indicating cars; red, blue and green lights advertising merchandise or places of entertainment.  Hark to the ascending roar of the traffic!  Pause awhile:  gaze and listen.  What a whirlpool!  Now turn your head and glance upward.  There, twinkling remotely above, are the silent stars.  They are worlds -myriads of them!  Look down and wonder -look up and marvel -until you ask yourself, in a sudden spasm of ungrammatical amazement: 'Where, the Thunder, did all this come from?'

-excerpt from Nothing Dies by J.W. Dunne.

The real miracle, the incredible thing, is that any of this exists at all.

Is Ignorance Bliss?

My business travel is at about 75%.  So, I am quite frequently dining out with co-workers.  Because I am using my blackberry (smart phone) to track calories, everyone sees me pulling up restaurant nutrition info on my phone before placing orders and then while waiting for the food, I am usually keying my menu or calorie counts into my phone.  I recently hired two new team members who are now in the process of re-locating from Spain to Nashville, Tennessee.  The other day, I overheard them in the back seat of my car, talking in Spanish about my always entering what I eat into my cell phone.  They weren't really making fun of me but just talking about my new quirk.  Sometimes at dinner, co-workers have begun asking me about their calorie counts, usually while they are eating.  This is a bit dangerous as they are usually uncomfortable when they realize that their pizza is 600 calories a slice or that their 18 ounce rib eye steak cooked with butter is close to 1200 calories.  Most people worry about calories when they are aware of the counts but actually would rather remain blissfully ignorant.

Low Carb vs. Reduced Calorie Diets

I did low carbohydrate diets off and on over the years and lost significant weight in doing so.  I am now a month into a reduced calorie diet.  The early results from reduced calories have been roughly equivalent to the results I had doing low carb before.  The following are my observations from doing the both diets.  These are my current opinions, subject to change after more time doing the reduced calorie diet.

Low Carb: Can eat as much as you want as long as you avoid carbs.
Reduced Calorie:  Can eat anything you want with moderation.

Low Carb:  When ketosis kicks in, my breath stinks and my cognitive abilities suffer.
Reduced Calorie:  Breath is fine and my mind is clear.

Low Carb:  Each month I lost half of what I did the previous month.
Reduced Calorie: Long term effectiveness to be determined.

Low Carb:  To lose weight, I had to consume less than 30-45 net carbs a day.  I found effective maintenance is difficult.  For me, it was all or nothing.
Reduced Calorie:  Maintenance difficult is to be determined.  But, bumping my caloric intake up to a level where I will not lose or gain weight should be simple.  And, with my body type, my base metabolic rate is relatively high so this should not be a problem.

Low Carb:  I had to take vitamin supplements because I wasn't getting the right mix of nutrients.  For example, if I didn't take potassium, I got muscle cramps.
Reduced Calorie:  I seem to be getting a good variety of foods in my diet.  If I need to take vitamins has not yet been determined.

Low Carb: Energy level was high.
Reduced Calorie:  Energy level is also high. Note that I took a great deal of effort in setting an appropriate target for daily calorie intake.

Low Carb:  Cravings for sweets generally went away when they were removed from my diet.
Reduced Calorie:  Still crave sweets.  My personal caloric intake goals allow me to have some desserts and I am doing okay at consuming them in smaller portion sizes.

Low Carb:  Eating out is difficult.  At sit down restaurants I  usually had to ask for substitutions which is a pain in the butt.  Fast food has almost no options other than salads and I quickly tire of salads.
Reduced Calories:  Substitutions are not usually necessary.  Plus, many restaurants have calories posted.  There are options even at fast food restaurants.  McDonalds even has a pretty low calorie ice cream cone.  Wendy's chili is a great substitution for fries.

Low Carb:  Others just don't get it.  Politely eating what others have prepared is difficult.  Waitresses think something is wrong when you eat just the topings off a sandwich or pizza.
Reduced Calorie:  Everybody gets it.  There is no need to explain the details of what you can or can't eat.  When at someone's house, you can manage your diet through portion control.

Low Carb:  Food costs about doubled.
Reduced Calorie:  Food costs about the same as before, maybe a little less.

Low Carb:  The online community is tight and supportive.  The rest of the world however constantly tries to convince you that it's a dangerous diet.
Reduced Calorie:  Experience so far shows the online community to be not as passionate.  This may be due to the diet being widely accepted with the world at large.

Low Carb:  There are lots of poorly conducted studies trying to debunk it's effectiveness.  I had great personal success doing low carb.  It works, often with little baring on the amount of calories eaten.
Reduced Calorie:  Most "experts" on diet and health assume this works.  But, I don't think it's as simple as just "calories in vs. calories out".

With either diet, everyBODY is different.  Your personal experiences may differ from mine.

----

Author comments on May 25, 2012:



I should add one more comparison... this one in favor of low carb:


Low Carb:  Can drink lots of clear alcohols as they have few to no carbs.  Drinking never seemed to impact my personal ability to lose weight while doing low carb.


Reduced Calorie:  When I go out after work, I can't drink with the crowd.  I might have one or possibly two drinks but I have not figured out how to get drunk without blowing my caloric intake goals.

My New Friend, Papa Murphy

I have a new best friend.  His name is Papa Murphy.  He brought pizza back into my diet.  That's right, Papa Murphy's is a nation-wide to-go pizza store where they make the pizza but you bake it at home.  And, their "DeLite" series of pizzas are low calorie, ranging between 143 and 200 calories per generous slice (also only between 13 and 19 net carbs).  Nutrition Info.  Yeah, I'm so happy!

2nd Week Weight-loss Progress

Last week, I only lost 1 pound compared to 12 the first week.  But, my waste-line and hips continued to shrink so I'm not going to let it get me down.

Counting calories while on the road has not been as bad as I had thought.  But, it does require doing a little bit of homework.  Most restaurants have their nutrition facts posted on their web pages.  My calorie counter phone app has some chains.  But, for most restaurants, I'm just printing the calorie charts before leaving the office.  I'm on the road again this week.

The hardest part of last week was going with co-workers to Mellow Mushroom, my favorite pizza restaurant.  I could afford only 1 piece of pizza or a huge salad and baked stuffed portebela mushroom.  I opted for the salad and mushroom.  While they were good and filling, I felt like I was drooling over my favorite pizza.  I think I still made the right choice as one piece of their amazing pizza would only have left me craving more.

1st Week Diet Results

Tomorrow morning will be one week on the diet.  I have lost 12 pounds and measured 1/2 inch smaller around the waist and about an inch smaller around the hips.  This has not been nearly as difficult as I had expected.

I am amazed at how easy it is to pick the right satisfying foods and to keep track of the calories when cooking at home!  While mostly selecting foods with a low caloric density, I am finding that it is actually difficult to keep my calories high enough to reach my daily target caloric intake of 1995 calories.  Most days I've fallen short by 300 to 500 calories.  Part of me thinks I should eat something extra so that I am closer to my plan.  Another part of me can't see eating when I am not hungry.  I'm worried that if my calories drop any lower that my metabolism will slow and my body will try to conserve energy.

This coming week will be the real challenge.  I will be on the road, living in a hotel.  As such, all meals will be from restaurants.  I can manage with sit-down dinners in the evenings but am a bit concerned about what I will find to eat for lunch.  I don't want to bring groceries and eat at the office.  I am expected to go out with everybody else.  Often the team does fast food, Mexican, sandwich shops, Thai, and Chinese buffets.  Do any of you have advise as to what and where to eat without being hungry?

Diet Apps for Smartphones and Blackberries

Do any of you use an app on your cell phone to look up and track calories?  I downloaded the blackberry app"Calorie Counter" by FatSecret.com.  It is real easy to look up foods and even has many restaurant menus with calorie counts.  But, the journal stinks because you can't easily add meals add-hoc.  For example, if you made a meal yourself you'd have to enter each ingredient and portion size rather than the total count for the meal.  There must be something better out there.  Rather than downloading hundreds of apps and trying them all out, I was hoping that perhaps some readers might be able to direct me to something better.  Please note that I have a blackberry so many iphone apps are not available to me.  PLEASE post comments... I'd like some help here.

Comments Added April 12, 2013:  
My wife found the app MyFitnessPal on her iPhone and thought it looked pretty good.  I added it to my blackberry.  It is awesome!  I no longer need to carry around a paper journal and calorie counter book!  With the app you can look up foods and even many restaurant menu items.  These can be easily added to a food journal which does all of your math for you.  And, if you want you can do a "quick add" to just add calories to your log.  Her iPhone app has one nice feature that the blackberry version doesn't.  With her iPhone, she can take a picture of a UPC code on a package and it will automatically look up the nutrition facts and/or add to her journal.  It's a fantastic FREE app!  It also has a means to track calories burned from exercise, however, I haven't explored this yet. And, you can record your weight, waist, hip, and neck measurements over time.  This is going to be my primary means of tracking calories and progress.  

Reduced Calorie - Journal Day 2

Yesterday went a little better.  Just before dinner, I had half of my daily calories available.  My family went to a nice sandwich shop called "Pot Bellies" where the menu displays calorie counts.  Upon ordering "The Wreck" sandwich, I was asked, "You want Mayo, Lettuce, Tomato, and peppers on that?" I quickly, without thinking said, "Yes."  Well, this of course is not included in the calorie count on the menu so I actually went about 40 calories over my limit for the day.  But still, what difference can 40 little calories make?

I'm only weighing in once a week as the daily ups and downs make doing so any more frequently pointless.  I can hardly wait until Monday to see how well the diet is working.

Reduced Calorie - Journal Day 1

Yesterday was the first day of my attempt to lose weight via reduced calories.  Based on my calculations, to lose 100 pounds in one year, my personal daily caloric intake should be 1995.  I am not in the habit of counting calories.  While I have investigated many aspects of calorie restriction, I didn't even think about what foods I'd need to eat.  I had just came home from vacation, celebrated my son's second birthday with family, and then celebrated Easter. I've not planned any actual meals nor shopped for diet friendly foods.

Partly due to lack of preparation, my choices were awful.  I kept my calories down but probably did not pick foods with lots of micro-nutrients.  For breakfast, I had a Jimmy Dean's "Delight" egg and cheese English muffin.  It has only 220 calories and tasted disgusting.  For lunch, I had a ham and cheese sandwich on low calorie bread along with cheese puffs.  For a snack, a banana.  For dinner baked cauliflower, turkey burger with cheese, and chips.  My total after dinner was only  about 1400 calories.  This is way too low.  I wanted to stay at close to 2000.  So, I had a cookie  which raised me up to nearly 1600.... still too low but I wasn't hungry so didn't want to force myself to eat.

While the food choices were not ideal, I kept my calories down and wasn't at all hungry.  This might not be as hard as I had expected.  I can't wait until enough time has passed to see how much weight I am really losing.

Starting a Reduced Calorie Diet - Baseline & Targets

Today, I start my reduced calorie diet.  This is the traditional and most widely accepted weight loss strategy.  In the past, I have had great success with low carb diets, losing as much as 85 pounds.  I blogged every step of the way and posted low carb recipes.  That blog, Big Daddy D's Low Carb can be found at:  http://lowcarbohydrate.blogspot.com/.  And, now that I am attempting reduced calories, I will be doing the same here.  If the low-calorie diet does not result in 8 pounds lost per month for the first couple of months, I will go back to low-carb as it works well for my body.

In preparation for this reduced calorie diet, I calculated my base metabolic rate (BMR) to be 2460 calories per day.  Then, because I do have a little physical activity, I have adjusted this by a factor of 1.2.  My adjusted BMR is 2952.  This is the number of calories I should be able to consume without gaining or losing any weight.

Then, I calculated that to lose 100 pounds in a year, I need to consume 1994 calories per day.  If I consume more than this, I will try to offset it with exercise.

I do not believe in measuring weight loss success in pounds alone.  Often when weight plateaus, the waistline continues to shrink.  So, I am starting the diet by recording my beginning measurements (in pounds and inches):

Weight:  351 (ouch, hadn't realized I'd gotten so fat).
Waist (sucked in/relaxed/puffed out):  56/59/60.5
Hips: 56.5
Thigh (left/right):  33.5/34
Calf: 20.5/21.5
Forearm:  15/15
Bicept (flexed):  18.5/19.5
Neck: 20
Wrist: 8/8
Height:  5' 10.5"

My wife will also be joining me on this weight loss journey.  Her adjusted BMR is 2643 calories per day to maintain.  Her target caloric intake is 1828 calories per day to achieve her goal in 365 days.

Game rules... If the diet is a lifestyle change then we must accept that on certain occasions our calorie intake will be higher than our target.  It will not always be practical to exercise enough to offset the difference.  Therefore, we are going to earn one day off the diet every week.  These earned days can be used whenever we choose.  They are not intended as "binge days" even though no maximum caloric intake is set. This was not calculated into our target.  If it seems to be hurting our progress, we may change the rule to simply bank calories whenever we are under our target.

I will begin a good journal... meticulously writing down everything I eat and looking up the calories.  This will help me to identify the foods that have caused stalls.

My Weight Loss Strategy

Positive Thinking

 Positive Action

Positive Habits

Positive Results

I have begun by focusing on "Positive Thinking".  I have been utilizing James Allen to get my mind in gear and have been working on a diet strategy in parallel.  The next phase begins April 9th when I begin to reduce my caloric intake.  I'm still contemplating what exercise program might work well for me given my busy travel schedule.  Weight training has it's appeal but with the extensive travel I do at work, it may be hard to keep up with.  I'm going to check with the YMCA about reciprocal memberships in the areas where I travel most.  If unable to have access to a gym, I might resign myself to simply walking.  I'm also going to look into taking Yoga classes. 

M&E Thoughts, Day 31 (Final Day)

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Thirty-First Morning

Sympathy bestowed increases its store in our own heart and enriches and fructifies our own life. Sympathy given is blessedness received; sympathy withheld is blessedness forfeited. In the measure that a man increases and enlarges his sympathy so much nearer does he approach the ideal life, the perfect blessedness; and when his heart has become so mellowed that no hard, bitter, or cruel thought can enter, and detract from its permanent sweetness, then indeed is he richly and divinely blessed.

Thirty-First Evening

Sweet is the rest and deep the bliss of him who has freed his heart from its lusts and hatreds and dark desires; and he who, without any shadow of bitterness resting upon him, and looking out upon the world with boundless compassion and love, can breathe, in his inmost heart, the blessing: Peace unto all living things, making no exceptions or distinctions-such a man has reached that happy ending which can never be taken away, for this is the perfection of life, the fulness of peace, the consummation of perfect blessedness.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own occasional commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 30

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Thirtieth Morning

When the farmer has tilled and dressedhis land and put in the seed, he knows that he has done all that he can possibly do, and that now he must trust to the elements, and wait patiently for the course of time to bring about the harvest, and that no amount of expectancy on his part will affect the result. Even so, he who has realized Truth, goes forth as a sower of the seeds of goodness, purity, love, and peace, without expectancy and never looking for results, knowing that there is the Great Over-ruling Law which brings about its own harvest in due time, and which is alike the source of preservation and destruction.

Thirtieth Evening

The virtuous put a check upon themselves, and set a watch upon their passions and emotions; in this way they gain possession of the mind, and gradually acquire calmness; and as they acquire influence, power, greatness, abiding joy, and fullness and completeness of life.
He only finds peace who conquers himself, who strives, day by day, after greater self-possession, greater self-control, greater calmness of mind.
Where the calm mind is there is strength and rest, there is love and wisdom; there is one who has fought successfully innumerable battles against self, who, after long toil in secret against his own failings, has triumphed at last.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 29

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Twenty-Ninth Morning

If you would realize true prosperity, do not settle down, as many have done, into the belief that if you do right everything will go wrong. Do not allow the word “Competition” to shake your faith in the supremacy of righteousness. I care not what men say about the “laws of competition,” for do not I know the Unchangeable Law which shall one day put them all to rout, and which puts them to rout even now in the heart and life of the righteous man? And knowing this law I can contemplate all dishonesty with undisturbed repose, for I know where certain destruction awaits it. Under all circumstances do that which you believe to be right, and trust the Law; trust the Divine Power which is immanent in the universe, and it will never desert you, and you will always be protected.

Twenty-Ninth Evening

Forget yourself entirely in the sorrows of others, and in ministering to others, and divine happiness will emancipate you from all sorrow and suffering. “Taking the first step with a good thought, the second with a good word, and the third with a good deed, I entered Paradise.” And you also enter Paradise by pursuing the same course.
Lose yourself in the welfare of others; forget yourself in all that you do-this is the secret of abounding happiness. Ever be on the watch to guard against selfishness and learn faithfully the divine lessons of inward sacrifice; so shall you climb the highest heights of happiness, and shall remain in the never-clouded sunshine of universal joy, clothed in the shining garment of immortality.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 28

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Twenty-Eighth Morning

There is no difficulty, however great, but will yield before a calm and powerful concentration of thought, and no legitimate object but may be speedily actualized by the intelligent use and direction of one’s soul forces.
Whatever your task may be, concentrate your whole mind upon it; throw into it all the energy of which you are capable. The faultless completion of small tasks, leads inevitably to larger tasks. See to it that you rise by steady climbing, and you will never fall.

Twenty-Eighth Evening

He who knows that Love is at the heart of all things, and has realized the all-sufficing power of that Love, has no room in his heart for condemnation.
If you love people and speak of them with praise, until they in some way thwart you, or do something of which you disapprove, and then you dislike them and speak of them with dispraise, you are not governed by the Love which is of God.
If, in your heart, you are continually arraigning and condemning others, selfless love is hidden from you. Train your mind in strong, impartial, and gentle thought; train your heart in purity and compassion; train your tongue to silence, and to true and stainless speech; so shall you enter the way of holiness and peace, and shall ultimately realize the immortal Love.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 27

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Twenty-Seventh Morning

Men go after much company, and seek out new excitements, but they are not acquainted with peace; in divers paths of pleasure they search for happiness, but they do not come to rest; through divers ways of laughter and feverish delirium they wander after gladness and life, but their tears are many and grievous, and they do not escape death.
Drifting upon the ocean of life in search of selfish indulgences, men are caught in its storms, and only after many tempests and much privation do they fly to the Rock of Refuge which rests in the deep silence of their own being. 

Twenty-Seventh Evening

Meditation centered upon divine realities is the very essence and soul of prayer. It is the silent reaching upward of the soul toward the Eternal.Meditation is the intense dwelling, in thought, upon an idea or theme with the object of thoroughly comprehending it; and whatsoever you constantly meditate upon, you will not only come to understand, but will grow more and more into its likeness, for it will become incorporated with your very being, will become, in fact, your very self. If, therefore, you constantly dwell upon that which is selfish and debasing, you will ultimately become selfish and debased; if you ceaselessly think upon that which is pure and unselfish, you will surely become pure and unselfish.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.

What Happened to My Body?

I have really let myself go.  I have never been "skinny".  But there are a few times in my life when I have been pretty close to my ideal weight.  This is not one of those times.  I'm big and fat and hardly get any exercise at all.  Regardless, I have perfect cholesterol and blood pressure.

My lifestyle is a huge part of why I'm not fit.  I have very little time for physical activity.  I travel 2 to 3 weeks a month, sometimes more.  When on the road, I work long hours, typically finishing work around 6:30 (central time).  After which, my co-workers meet at the hotel and regroup.  We don't sit down to dinner until around 7:30 or 8:00. Since I live in a different time zone, this is more like eating at 9:00 to me.  We take a long dinner and when finished eating and return to our hotel rooms to sleep. Occasionally we go out drinking after dinner.  I don't exercise after work because I don't want to eat dinner any later.  I don't work out after dinner because I'd then not be tired enough to go to bed.  So, I get almost no exercise and eat a big meal right before bedtime.  I have a sleeping disorder, sleep apnea.  As a result, I wake up exhausted and the thought of exercise in the morning is therefore repulsive.  Logically you'd think I could just bring a sack meal in to eat at work and skip dinner.  But dinner is a social time and without it the life on the road would be unbearable.

I recently bought a family membership to the YMCA.  But, when I'm in town, I find it difficult to make any time to exercise.  I work until around 5:00, help fix dinner, spend a little precious time with my family and then start trying to get my little kids ready for bed.  There is no time for TV and certainly no time to work out.  How do other people do it?  Is it a matter of priorities?  Would I be more willing to take the time at home if I were not on the road so much?  I absolutely need to resolve my schedule and find a way to make time for physical activity.  This will need to be an important part of my "Shaping" plan for body.

I also have sleep apnea.  I've always been a snorer.  Obesity didn't cause the condition but it likely makes it worse.  I believe that the sleep apnea is also a contributor to my obesity problem.  The condition slows the metabolism and increases cravings for energy dense foods.

My back often hurts.  I take Naproxin Sodium (Alive) on a regular basis to fight inflammation in my lower back.  I know the weight aggravates my back but I still had problems when I was slender.  Many years ago,  I took a yoga class and had no trouble the entire time.

I am addicted to caffeine.  For many years, I have wished that I didn't crave caffeinated soft drinks.  I don't know why I can't give them up.  I know that I should quit buying them.  The energy boost is minimal as I have built up resistance.  Yet, I feel bad if I don't have them.

I'm not changing anything just yet.  I'm currently doing a pre-study for my upcoming shaping project which begins on Easter Monday.  At that time, I will post my starting stats (weight, measurements, etc.).  Then, I'll keep you posted as to my progress.  My wife wants us to try a reduced calorie diet.  In the past, I've used low-carb successfully to lose tons of weight.  If I do not lose 8 pounds each month for the first two months, I'll drop the reduced calorie approach and do low-carb again.

M&E Thoughts, Day 26

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Twenty-Sixth Morning

A man will reach the Kingdom by purifying himself, and he can only do this by pursuing a  process of self-examination and self-analysis. The selfishness must be discovered and understood before it can be removed. It is powerless to remove itself, neither will it pass away of itself. Darkness ceases only when light is introduced; so ignorance can only be dispersed by knowledge, selfishness by love. A man must first of all be willing to lose himself (his self-seeking) before he can find himself (his Divine Self). He must realize that selfishness is not worth clinging to, that it is a master altogether unworthy of his service, and that divine goodness alone is worthy to be enthroned in his heart, as the supreme master of his life.

Twenty-Sixth Evening

     Be still, my soul, and know that peace is thine.
     Be steadfast, heart, and know that strength divine
     Belongs to thee; cease from thy turmoil, mind,
     And thou the Everlasting Rest shalt find.

If a man would have peace, let him exercise the spirit of peace; if he would find Love, let him dwell in the spirit of Love; if he would escape suffering, let him cease to inflict it; if he would do noble things for humanity, let him cease to do ignoble things for himself. If he will but quarry the mine of his own soul, he shall find there all the materials for building whatsoever he will, and he shall find there also the Central Rock on which to build in safety.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.

M&E Thoughts, Day 25

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Twenty-Fifth Morning

By curbing his tongue, a man gains possession of his mind. The fool babbles, gossips, argues, and bandies words. He glories in the fact that he has had the last word, and has silenced his opponent. He exults in his own folly, is ever on the defensive, and wastes his energies in unprofitable channels. He is like a gardener who continues to dig and plant in unproductive soil.
The wise man avoids idle words, gossips, vain argument, and self-defence. He is content to appear defeated; rejoices when he is defeated; knowing that, having found and removed another error in himself, he has thereby become wiser.
Blessed is he who does not strive for the last word.

Twenty-Fifth Evening

Desire is the craving for possession; aspiration is the hunger of the heart for peace. The craving for things leads ever farther and farther from peace, and not only ends in deprivation, but is in itself A state of perpetual want. Until it comes to an end, rest and satisfaction are impossible.
The hunger for things can never be satisfied, but the hunger for peace can, and the satisfaction of peace is found- is fully possessed, when all selfish desire is abandoned. Then there is fullness  of joy, abounding plenty, and rich and complete blessedness.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 24

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Twenty-Fourth Morning

Not by learning will a man triumph over evil; not by much study will he overcome sin and sorrow. Only by conquering himself will he conquer evil; only by practising righteousness will he put an end to sorrow.
Not for the clever, nor the learned, nor the self-confident is the Life Triumphant, but for the pure, the virtuous and wise. The former achieve their particular success in life, but the latter alone achieve the great success so invincible and complete that even in apparent defeat it shines  with added victory.

Twenty-Fourth Evening

The true silence is not merely a silent tongue; it is a silent mind. To merely hold one’s tongue, and yet to carry about a disturbed and rankling mind, is no remedy for weakness, and no source of power.
Silentness, to be powerful, must envelop the whole mind, must permeate every chamber of the heart; it must be the silence of peace.  To this broad, deep, abiding silentness a man attains only  in the measure that he conquers himself.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 23

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Twenty-Third Morning

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.
Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes creative force: he who knows this is ready to become something higher and stronger than a mere bundle of wavering thoughts and fluctuating sensations; he who does this has become the conscious and intelligent wielder of his mental powers.

Twenty-Third Evening

Man’s true place in the Cosmos is that of a king, not a slave, a commander under the Law of Good, and not a helpless tool in the region of evil.
I write for men, not for babes; for those who are eager to learn, and earnest to achieve; for those who will put away (for the world’s good) a petty personal indulgence, a selfish desire, a mean thought, and live on as though it were not, sans craving and regret.
Man is a master. If he were not, he could not act contrary to law.
Evil and weakness are self destructive.
The universe is girt with goodness and strength, and it protects the good and the strong.
The angry man is the weak man.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 22

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Twenty-Second Morning

Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the Loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all heavenly environment; of these, if you will remain true to them, your world will at last be built.

     Guard well thy mind, and, noble, strong, and free,
     Nothing shall harm, disturb or conquer thee;
     For all thy foes are in thy heart and mind,
     There also thy salvation thou shalt find.

Twenty-Second Evening

Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of  hat you shall one day be; your Ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.
The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg; and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs.
Your circumstances may be uncongenial, but they shall not long remain so when you perceive an Ideal and strive to reach it.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 21

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Twenty-First Morning

Let your heart grow and expand with ever-broadening love, until, freed from all hatred, and passion, and condemnation, it embraces the whole universe with thoughtful tenderness. As the flower opens its petals to receive the morning light, so open your soul more and more to the glorious light of Truth. Soar upward on the wings of aspiration; be fearless and believe in the loftiest possibilities.

Twenty-First Evening

Mind clothes itself in garments of its own making.
Mind is the arbiter of life; it is the creator and shaper of conditions, and the recipient of its own results. It contains within itself both the power to create illusion and to perceive reality.
Mind is the infallible weaver of destiny; thought is the thread, good and evil deeds are the warp and woof, and the web, woven upon the loom of life, is character.

     Make pure thy heart, and thou wilt make thy life
     Rich, sweet, and beautiful, unmarred by strife.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 20

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Twentieth Morning

Sympathy given can never be waste.
One aspect of sympathy is that of Pity-pity for the distressed or pain-stricken, with a desire to alleviate or help them in their sufferings.The world needs more of this divine quality.

For pity makes the world
Soft to the weak, and noble for the strong.

Another form of sympathy is that of rejoicing with others who are more successful than ourselves, and though their success were our own.

Twentieth Evening

Sweet are companionships, pleasures, and material comforts, but they change and fade away. Sweeter still are Purity, Wisdom, and the knowledge of Truth, and these never change nor fade  away.
He who attained to the possession of spiritual things can never be deprived of his source of happiness; he will never have to part company with it, and wherever he goes in the whole universe, he will carry his possessions with him. His spiritual end will be the fulness of joy.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

Spring Equinox and Weeble Wobbles

Tomorrow morning is the Spring Equinox, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator.  On this day, the length of sunlight and darkness are about equal.  This is a good time for us to sit for a spell and contemplate balance in our lives.  Remember that balance is not stasis; sometimes we have to shift our direction and move out of balance to achieve balance.  Think of life as a "weeble wobble".  I remember the commercials from my youth, "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down."  Sometimes we need a reminder that we're out of balance so that we can swing back toward the center.  And, often, we swing just a bit farther to the opposite direction than we had intended.  But with each swing, we come closer to center.  And, this applies to all aspects of our life.  If, for example, I have been overeating and thus became overweight, I must then eat less than my body's base requirements until the fat has been burned off.  Likewise, if I am working too many hours, I may need a vacation to regain inner balance.  Applying too much force in any area may result in a "spring" back in the opposite direction.  Whether you are aware of it or not, life is about balance.  And balance does not imply being still, rather balance implies forces set in motion.

M&E Thoughts, Day 19

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Nineteenth Morning

If you are one of those who are praying for, and looking forward to a happier world beyond the grave, here is a message of gladness for you-you may enter into and realize that happy world now; it fills the whole universe, and it is within you, waiting for you to find, acknowledge, and possess.Said one who understood the inner laws of Being-“When men shall say, lo here, or lo there, go not after them. The Kingdom of God is within you.” 

Nineteenth Evening

Heaven and hell are inward states.  Sink into self and all its gratifications, and you sink into hell;  rise above self into that state of consciousness which is the utter denial and forgetfulness of self, and you enter heaven. So long as you persist in selfishly seeking for your own personal happiness, so long will happiness elude you, and you will be sowing the seeds of wretchedness. In so far as you succeed in losing yourself in the service of others, in that measure will happiness come to you, and you will reap a harvest of bliss.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.

M&E Thoughts, Day 18

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Eighteenth Morning

The gospel of Jesus is a gospel of living and doing. If it were not this it would not voice the Eternal Truth. Its Temple is Purified Conduct, the entrance-door to which is Self-surrender. It invites men to shake off sin, and promises, as a result, joy and blessedness and perfect peace.
The Kingdom of Heaven is perfect trust, perfect knowledge, perfect peace. . . . No sin can enter therein, no self-born Thought or deed can pass its golden gates; no impure desire can defile its radiant robes. . . . All may enter it who will, but all must pay the price-the unconditional abandonment of self.

Eighteenth Evening

I say this-and know it to be truth-that circumstances can only affect you in so far as you allow them to do so. You are swayed by circumstances because you have not a right understanding of the nature, use, and power of thought. You believe (and upon this little word belief hang all our joys and sorrows) that outward things have the power to make or mar your life; by so doing you submit to those outward things, confess that you are their slave, and they your unconditional master. By so doing you invest them with a power which they do not of themselves possess, and you succumb, in reality not to the circumstances, but to the gloom or gladness, the fear or hope, the strength of weakness, which your thought-sphere has thrown around them.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 17

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Seventeenth Morning

There is no strife, no selfishness, in the Kingdom; there is perfect harmony, equipoise, and rest. Those who live in the Kingdom of Love, have all their needs supplied by the Law of Love. As self is the root cause of all strife And suffering, so Love is the root cause of all peace and bliss.
Those who are at rest in the Kingdom, do not look for happiness in any outward possessions. They are freed from all anxiety and trouble and, resting in Love, they are the embodiment of  happiness.

Seventeenth Evening

Let it not be supposed that the children of The Kingdom live in ease and indolence (these two sins are the first that have to be eradicated when the search for the Kingdom is entered upon); they live in a peaceful activity; in fact, they only truly live, for the life of self, with its train of worries, griefs, and fears, is not real life.
The children of the Kingdom are Known by their life, they manifest the fruits of the Spirit-“Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance, self-control”- under all circumstances and vicissitudes.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 16

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Sixteenth Morning

Let a man realize that life in its totality proceeds from the mind, and lo, the way of blessedness is opened up to him! For he will then discover that he possesses the power to rule his mind and to fashion it in accordance with his Ideal. So will he elect to strongly and stead-fastly walk those pathways of thought and action which are altogether excellent; to him life will become beautiful and sacred; and, sooner or later, he will put to flight all evil, confusion, and suffering; for it is impossible for a man to fall short of liberation, enlightenment, and peace, who guards with unwearying diligence the gateway of his heart.

Sixteenth Evening

By constantly overcoming self, a man gains a knowledge of the subtle intricacies of his mind; and it is this divine knowledge which enables him to become established in calmness. Without self-knowledge there can be no abiding peace of mind, and those who are carried away by tempestuous passions, cannot approach the holy place where calmness reigns. The weak man is like one who, having mounted a fiery steed, allows it to run away with him, and carry him withersoever it wills; the strong man is like one who, having mounted the steed, governs it with a masterly hand and makes it go in whatever direction and at whatever speed he commands.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 15

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Fifteenth Morning

If men only understood
That their hatred and resentment.
Slays their peace and sweet contentment,
Hurts themselves, helps not another,
Does not cheer one lonely brother,
They would seek the better doing
Of good deeds which leaves no rueing-
If they only understood.

If men only understood
How Love conquers; how prevailing
Is its might, grim hate assailing;
How compassion endeth sorrow,
Maketh wise, and doth not borrow
Pain of passion, they would ever
Live in Love, in hatred never-
If they only understood.

Fifteenth Evening

The grace and beauty that were in Jesus can be of no value to you-cannot be understood by you-unless they are also in you, and they can never be in you, until you practise them, for, apart from doing, the qualities which constitute Goodness do not, as far as you are concerned, exist.
To adore Jesus for his good qualities is a long step towards Truth, but to practice those qualities is Truth itself; and he who fully adores the perfection of another will not rest content in his own imperfection, but will fashion his soul after the likeness of that other.
Therefore thou who adorest Jesus for his divine qualities, practise those qualities thyself, and thou too shalt be divine.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 14

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Fourteenth Morning

In speaking of self-control, one is easily misunderstood. It should not be associated with a destructive repression, but with a constructive expression.
A man is happy, wise and great in the measure that he controls himself; he is wretched, foolish, and mean in the measure that he allows his animal nature to dominate his thoughts and actions.
He who controls himself, controls his life, his circumstances, his destiny; and wherever he goes he carries his happiness with him as an abiding possession.
Renunciation precedes regeneration.
The permanent happiness which men seek in dissipation, excitement, and abandonment to unworthy pleasures, is found only in the life which reverses all this-the life of self-control.

Fourteenth Evening

Law, not confusion, is the dominating principle in the universe; justice, not injustice is the soul and substance of life; and righteousness, not corruption, is the molding and moving force in the spiritual government of the world. This being so, man has but the right himself to find that the universe is right.

When I am pure,
I shall have solved the mystery of life;
I shall be sure,
When I am free from hatred, lust and strife,
I am in Truth, and Truth abides in me;
I shall be safe, and sane, and wholly free,
When I am pure.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 13

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Thirteenth Morning

As darkness is a passing shadow, and light is a substance that remains, so sorrow is fleeting, but joy abides for ever. No true thing can pass away and become lost; no false thing can remain and be preserved.
Sorrow is false, and it cannot live; joy is true, and it cannot die. Joy may become hidden for a time, but it can always be recovered; sorrow may remain for a period, but it can be transcended and dispersed.
Do not think your sorrow will remain; it will pass away like a cloud. Do not believe that the torments of sin are ever your portion; they will vanish like a hideous nightmare. Awake! Arise! Be holy and joyful.

Thirteenth Evening

Tribulation lasts only so long as there remains some chaff of self which needs to be removed. The tribulum, or threshing machine, ceases to work when all the grain is separated from the chaff; and when the last impurities are blown away from the soul, tribulation has completed its work, and there is no more need for it; then abiding joy is realized.
The sole and supreme use of suffering is to purify, to burn out all that is useless and impure. Suffering ceases for him who is pure. There could be no object in burning gold after the dross had been removed.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 12

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Twelfth Morning

Every man reaps the results of his own thoughts and deeds, and suffers for his own wrong.
He who begins right, and continues right, does not need to desire, and search for felicitous results; they are already at hand; they follow as consequences; they are the certainties, the realities, of life.
Sweet is the rest and deep is the bliss of him who has freed his heart from its lusts and hatreds and dark desires.

Twelfth Evening

You are the creator of your own shadows; you desire, and then you grieve; renounce, and then you shall rejoice.
Of all the beautiful truths pertaining to the soul, . . . 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 character, environment, and destiny.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 11

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Eleventh Morning

Be as a flower; content to be, to grow in sweetness day by day. If thou would’st perfect thyself in knowledge, perfect thyself in Love. If thou would’st reach the Highest, ceaselessly cultivate a loving and compassionate heart.
To him who chooses Goodness, sacrificing all, is given that which is more than, and includes, all.

Eleventh Evening

The Great Law never cheats any man of his just due.
Human life, when rightly lived, is simple with a beautiful simplicity.
He who comprehends the utter simplicity of life, who obeys its laws, and does not step aside into the dark paths and complex mazes of selfish desire, stands where no harm can reach him.
Then there is fullness of joy, abounding plenty, and rich and complete blessedness.

Discussion:

1. "The Great Law" sounds a bit like karma.  You reap what you sew.  If you cultivate good thoughts then good things manifest.  Does this really need to be seen in terms of a sacrifice?  
2. What about those of us who like the complex mazes of selfish desire?  There is something about drama that is soothing to the human condition.  If everything was always rosy, would existence seem a bit drab?  

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 10

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Tenth Morning

Every thought you think is a force sent out.
Whatever your position in life may be, before you can hope to enter into any measure of success, usefulness, and power, you must learn how to focus your thought-forces by cultivating calmness and repose.
There is no difficulty, however great, but will yield before a calm and purposeful concentration of thought, and no legitimate object but may be speedily actualized by the intelligent use and direction of one’s soul forces.
Think good thoughts, and they will quickly become actualized in your outward life in the form of good conditions.

Tenth Evening

That which you would be and hope to be,you may be now. Non-accomplishment resides in your perpetual postponement, and, having the power to postpone, you also have the power to accomplish-to perpetually accomplish: realize this truth, and you shall be to-day, and every day, the ideal being of whom you dreamed.
Say to yourself, “I will live in my Ideal now; I will manifest my ideal now; I will be my Ideal now; and all that tempts me away from my Ideal I will not listen to; I will listen only to the voice of my Ideal.”

Discussion: 

1. The morning thoughts for today are really the essence of all of James Allen's writing.  Thoughts have power.  To some extent, we are co-creators of the universe we live in.  It's a much more metaphysical philosophy than simply having focused actions.  In Allen's world, thoughts themselves have power.  What do you think?  If true, why doesn't everyone use this technique to win a lottery?  
2. While it is true that today is the first day of the rest of your life, it is not always easy to allow one's self to change.  It is difficult to let go of what is comfortable and familiar.  And often, we are not actually conscious of our own desires nor ideals.  But, if we never take a stance, sending out intentions into the universe, then we will remain stagnant and unchanged.  If you could change anything in your life, what would it be?  Why not start taking actions now toward making this desire your new reality?

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 9

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Ninth Morning

Whatever conditions are rendering your life burdensome, you may pass out of and beyond them by developing and utilizing within you the transforming power of self-purification and self-conquest.
Before the divine radiance of a pure heart all darkness vanishes and all clouds melt away, and he who has conquered self has conquered the universe.
He who sets his foot firmly upon the path of self-conquest, who walks, aided by the staff of faith, the highway of self-sacrifice, will assuredly achieve the highest prosperity, and will reap abounding and enduring joy and bliss.

Ninth Evening

It is the silent and conquering thought-forces which bring all things into manifestation. The universe grew out of thought.
To adjust all your thoughts to a perfect and unswerving faith in the omnipotence and supremacy of Good, is to co-operate with that Good, and to realize within yourself the solution and destruction of all evil.
To mentally deny evil is not sufficient; it must, by daily practice, be risen above and understood. To affirm the Good mentally is inadequate; it must, by unswerving endeavor, be entered into and comprehended.

Discussion:

1. Having a pure heart is not about being prudent.  It is about having a sharply focused mind, clear intentions, and a positive attitude. What exercises do you think could help to achieve this?
2. The power of thought is stronger than most people suspect.  If you think about it, all actions started out as thoughts.  Our world is created and is evolving based on competing thoughts of different people.  If you want to make the world a better place, start at home with yourself.  

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 8

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Eighth Morning

Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armoury of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly  mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought man ascends to the Divine Perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character, and man is their maker and master.
As a being of Power, Intelligence, and Love, and the lord of his own thoughts, man holds the key to every situation. 

Eighth Evening

Whatsoever you harbour in the inmost chambers of your heart will, sooner or later, by the inevitable law of reaction, shape itself in your outward life.
Every soul attracts its own, and nothing can possibly come to it that does not belong to it. To realize this is to recognize the universality of Divine Law.

If thou would’st right the world,
And banish all its evils and its woes.
Make its wild places bloom,
And its drear deserts blossom as the rose-
Then right thyself.

Discussion:

1. These ideas are not unique. Many great minds throughout history have thought along similar lines. Here are some examples: Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." Ghandi said, “A man is but the product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes.” Socrates once said, “Virtue does not come from wealth, but. . . wealth, and every other good thing which men have. . . comes from virtue.” Socrates also said, “Let him who would move the world first move himself.”

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 7

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Seventh Morning

The will to evil and the will to good
Are both within thee, which wilt thou employ?
Thou knowest what is right and what is wrong,
Which wilt though love and foster? which destroy?
Thou art the chooser of thy thoughts and deeds;
Thou art the maker of thine inward state;
The power is thine to be what thou wilt be;
Thou buildest Truth and Love, or lies and hate.

Seventh Evening

The teaching of Jesus brings men back to the simple truth that righteousness, or right-doing, is entirely a matter of individual conduct, and not a mystical something apart from a man’s thoughts and deeds.
Calmness and patience can become habitual by first grasping, through effort, a calm and patient thought, and then continuously thinking it, and living in it, until “use becomes second nature,” and anger and impatience pass away for ever.

Discussion:

1. James Allen's writings were heavily influenced by Budhism but he wrote mainly for an American and British audience in the early 1900's.  He often writes in terms of Christianity, possibly as a way to connect better to the average reader of this time.  While his teachings may not go against anything in the Bible, they are far from traditional Christian beliefs.  Making a concsious decision to do "right" vs. "wrong" or love vs. hate is not so much about following rules as it is about being righteous and positive.  It is a universal principle relevent to just about any of the world's religions.
2. The key to this passage is to form good habits and training the mind to be positive and righteous.  The reason for this is that James Allen believed that the mind is a like a magnet.  In Allen's model, thoughts attract situations and influence the world around you.  Have you ever noticed how some people seem to attract certain situations even when the events were out of their control?  For example, one person might always find themselves in hard situation after hard situation.  Another might seem to always be lucky with everything always seemingly in their favor.  This is not by chance but rather it is to some degree a reflection of their states.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

M&E Thoughts, Day 6

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Sixth Morning

In the pure heart there is no room left where personal judgments and hatreds can find lodgment, for it is filled to overflowing with tenderness and love; it sees no evil, and only as men succeed in seeing no evil in others will they become free from sin, and sorrow, and suffering.

If men only understood
That the heart that sins must sorrow,
That the hateful mind tomorrow
Reaps its barren harvest, weeping,
Starving, resting not, nor sleeping;
Tenderness would fill their being,
They would see with Pity’s seeing
If they only understood.

Sixth Evening

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 to ultimately triumph over every inward foe-such is man’s divine destiny, such his glorious goal; and this, every saint, sage, and savior has declared.
A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life. And as he adapts his mind to that regulating  actor, he ceases to accuse others as the cause of his condition, and builds himself up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapid progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden power and possibilities within himself.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.  

Colds, Travel, and Dieting

I have had a terrible cold for a few days.  My one year old son had it first.  Before I had children, I was hardly ever sick.  Now, whenever they catch a bug, I get it also.  As such, I'm waiting for my health to return before I begin adjusting my diet. 

I'll be on the road for business the next two weeks.  After this, we have a Spring Break vacation planned.  I think I'm going to wait until I return from vacation to start a diet program. 

It's always so easy to put off starting a diet.  But, it's not so difficult to set a date in the not-so-far-off future and to stick with it.  I've set my mind to begin the Monday after returning from Spring Break, ie. Easter Monday.  I'm already instructing my good wife to go easy on the Easter candy as I don't want the house full of junk food when we start our diet.  In the meantime, I will continue studying about my diet of choice, this time reduced calories.

M&E Thoughts, Day 5

Morning and evening thoughts, 1908. By James Allen.

Fifth Morning

To dwell in love always and towards all is to live the true life, is to have Life itself.  Knowing this, the good man gives up himself unreservedly to the Spirit of Love, and dwells in Love towards all, contending with none, condemning none, but loving all.
The Christ Spirit of Love puts an end, not only to all sin, but to all division and contention.

Fifth Evening

When sin and self are abandoned, the heart is restored to its imperishable Joy.  Joy comes and fills the self-emptied heart; it abides with the peaceful; its reign is with the pure.
Joy flees from the selfish, it deserts the quarrelsome; it is hidden from the impure.
Joy cannot remain with the selfish; it is wedded to Love.

In 1908, James Allen published "Morning and Evening Thoughts" which consists of short inspirational writings to be read over a period of 31 days.  Due to the age, this text is considered public domain and can be copied and shared freely.  For each day in March, I will post his morning and evening thoughts along with my own commentary.  The intention is to mold my mind and spirit, focusing on positive thinking.  Please feel free to follow along with me now or later and post your own comments attached to each post.