Sanjay was upset as his request for role revision was dismissed by his boss. He himself was not convinced of his proposal but thought of going ahead in any case. Was there any effect of his thoughts on the outcome? We proposed that as a topic for our weekly meeting.

“Thoughts produce and attract actions.”

I thought about making a phone call to a friend and I called him up. It is easy to understand that first there is a thought and based on that there is an action. Thought precedes action and in other words thought produce action. Clear thought will produce clear action and confused thought will produce confused action. So far so good. But what it has to do with attracting actions?

Perhaps it has to do with how my thoughts influence my verbal and non-verbal communication. If my thoughts are confused, somehow clarity is not transmitted and in turn the response is also weak.  Is it that simple or is there anything more to it?

“Thoughts with faith produce and attract stronger actions.”

I noticed the word ‘faith’ introduced in the statement. Perhaps here is the caution against hollow thoughts – those whom we ourselves do not believe. At different times I had thoughts about climbing mount Everest, becoming the best football player, becoming film star and often about becoming a billionaire. But as stated above, even I did not believe in them and obviously nothing fruitful happened.

“Thoughts repeated with faith produce and attract maximum strength in actions.”

Now it is not just thoughts with faith but with repeated faith. Does it mean that if I have thoughts about becoming successful and if I repeat these thoughts with faith then it will produce my actions and will also attract actions with maximum strength in such a way that I will become successful? Perhaps it may be so, but here the meaning could be of far more and profound depth.

As our discussion progressed, we realised that we can have faith only when our thoughts are linked with our core – deep feelings, beliefs and values. We may come across lot of ‘fashionable’ and ‘nice looking’ ideas for selfish gains. We may even like to have thoughts on those ideas. But if they do not co-inside with our deep feelings, we are less likely to have faith in these thoughts.

On the other hand, if we are not swayed by the prevailing and ever changing ‘ideas’ and are firmly rooted in our core, then we will not only have faith, but the thoughts around that will be repeated with faith. And that will not only produce but will also attract maximum strength in our action.

If deep within I feel I am a pigmy, then my thoughts will be of pigmy and eventually I will become pigmy. If I feel I am powerless, my thoughts will be similar. That will produce powerless action and will also attract similar response. On the other hand, if deep within I feel against the injustices and feel that I can bring the change, then my thoughts will be in those directions. I will act in the world and will draw other people with similar feelings.

If deep within I feel that my life has a purpose, that I have a role to play in the world, then my thoughts will be around that. These thoughts will produce meaningful actions. I will get drawn to and will draw others with similar feelings, to join together in influencing the world. As these are my deep feelings, it will carry a conviction and a faith and will not be a mere superfluous lip service. There will be other ‘fashionable’ ideas such as ‘minding own business’, but they will not appeal me as my deep feelings will translate into thoughts repeated with faith.

Rajesh suggested that the example of Gandhi will be appropriate in this context. Having been thrown out of the train, he had the deep experience of the sense of injustice. He thought about the need to protest and that not only produced his actions but also drew support from others. He had faith in his thoughts and that produced and attracted stronger actions. And as his life reveals, his thoughts of opposing injustice of all forms were repeated with faith and that produced and attracted actions with phenomenal strength.

We are not Gandhi, but his life can always inspire us. We are touched by his life because deep within us we carry similar feelings. We feel against all forms of violence and injustice against human being. We aspire for a more human world with equal opportunity for all human beings without any discrimination. We feel that we are change makers and that is the purpose of our life.

If we feel that we are change makers and if our thoughts are around it. If these thoughts are with faith and are repeated with faith. Then it will produce and attract maximum strength in our actions towards working for the change to build better and more human society. A life worth living for.

Realising this phenomenal power of thoughts, I was moving ahead in my journey to becoming better human being.

Further sharing in the next mail.

Parimal Merchant Humanist Volunteer

All the earlier posts are available at the blog : https://parimalmerchanthm.blogspot.com/

Continue reading more about Journey to becoming better human being part- 42